Summer business has given Slot team with best years ahead of it

AFTER a historic spend of £444million in the summer transfer window, the Liverpool squad has a fresh look about it for the season ahead.

- By PAUL GORST

Nine new players have joined across the course of the summer, with Arne Slot addressing areas of his squad that he felt needed most attention, while also moving on some who had started to drift towards the fringes under the Dutch coach at Anfield.

After it became clear Trent Alexander-Arnold would be seeking new pastures in Madrid, the Reds made Jeremie Frimpong their first capture of the summer, officially confirmed the Netherlands fullback as a Liverpool player on June 1, the same day Alexander-Arnold’s defection to Real Madrid was completed.

Florian Wirtz was next through the door in the second of three deals between the Reds and Bayer Leverkusen this summer, with the Germany international signing for an initial £100m sum in June before Milos Kerkez ended longstanding interest to join from Bournemouth in a £40m agreement.

Hugo Ektike and Giovanni Leoni followed in July and August, respectively, while the club also strengthened their goalkeeping department with experience, potential and quality in the shape of Freddie Woodman, Armin Pecsi and Georgia international Giorgi Mamardashvili, whose official arrival came in July after a £29m agreement with Valencia last year.

All of that activity, of course, was followed by the transfer deadline capture of Alexander Isak, who became the most expensive signing of all time in British football after his £125m switch from Newcastle United, completing a busy summer of spending that reached never-before-seen levels at Anfield.