STAND STILL & YOU'LL ONLY GET WIRTZ... STEP IT UP!

LIVERPOOL legend Alan Kennedy is convinced the Premier League champions will have to “step up a gear” if they are going to make a successful title defence this season.

- BY NEIL GOULDING

Arne Slot's Reds have been busy in the summer transfer market, and are set to spend more than £200million.

Florian Wirtz arrived for a record £116m from Bayer Leverkusen on Friday, joining right-back Jeremie Frimpong (£30m) and keepers Giorgi Mamardashvili (£29m) and Armin Pecsi (£1.5m) at Anfield.

The Reds are also close to sealing a £40m deal for the Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerez.

Five-time league champion and double European Cup winner Kennedy said: “They're a great side and hard to beat.