The Reds’ September 1st couldn’t have been quieter leaving Andoni Iraola with some big problems to solve.

By Alex Ridout

If you were to do a fan survey between all Premier League supporters about who had the best transfer window this summer, the same usual teams would be said, but Liverpool wouldn’t be be in that conversation.

A new manager has arrived at Anfield with an exciting vision – a position a fair few teams in England’s top flight are in this season – but this idea needs work, support and most importantly, financial backing.

It’s not like Andoni Iraola was begging for coins outside the Kop in order to get players in, however, in a squad that needed a large amount of work, following a miserable second season under Arne Slot, the Spaniard has found himself going into the Autumn season wondering how much luck he is going to need, in order to get his side to the places they want to go this campaign.

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The signings that were endorsed by the Liverpool hierarchy, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), were all deals that many Reds supporters were extremely positive about.

All of Jérémy Jacquet, Víctor Muñoz and Ronald Araújo have all started their career’s on Merseyside well, showing why the club were interested in their services.

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The arrival of the trio was followed by the signing of PSG winger, Bradley Barcola, after what was a long period of negotiated with the French club, the pair finally settled on a £106m initial fee, which may rise to £123.

There is no doubt that this signing was one of the most exciting to enter the Premier League this summer, but despite that, many fans felt dissatisfied with their club’s business, seeing as it seemed once the 23-year-old was announced as a Liverpool player, anyone in the recruitment department took off, ending any sort of hope for some last minute deals at least a day early.

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The distaste on how quietly the window ended at the AXA training ground came from a position of worry, with many Liverpool fans rating the window negatively in their estimates due to a lack of cover in certain positions, especially right back and defensive midfield.

It’s no secret that the Reds have wanted a big money destroyer in the middle of the park, after never really replacing Fabinho, who left the club in the summer of 2023.

Wataru Endo was the only player brought in for that position, but at the time it felt like a stopgap signing for the Reds, after failed attempt to sign Aurélien Tchouaméni, Moisés Caicedo and Roméo Lavia, it was a quick pivot to sign the Japanease international, however they still wanted that area upgrading.

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The next summer, another negative outcome, after a rejection from Martín Zubimendi, meaning the Liverpool hierarchy never found the man to replace the Brazilian, even three years later.

Ryan Gravenberch has a good spell in the position in Slot’s first season at Anfield, but since hasn’t been able to fill the defensive needs required to play the position effectively, which is proven by the first two games of Iraola’s reign.

There were opportunities this summer, from the more expensive packages of, now Manchester City duo Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi, but also cheaper options like Lamine Camara, who the Reds were offered, but turned down.

Especially with the removal of Curtis Jones, Iraola’s engine to the machine seems lighter than it was coming into the summer window, and that is an issue that could haunt the decision-makers come the end of the season.

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The same can be said for the right back spot, which is another area of the Reds’ squad that looks bare to the bone, with only Jeremie Frimpong as an actual full back option, and some would even question that, and say his best position is at right wing back.

It’s another area that Liverpool look thin at, especially with the Dutchman’s injury record, which is a similar situation to the striker spot, with Alexander Isak being the only out-and-out number nine.

If there is any one person who will receive the most amount of questions about why the window failed to deliver in a lot of areas, that will be Richard Hughes.

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The fact that the Reds’ sporting director was allowed to enter the transfer window in that position is a question in itself, as his interest in a move to the Saudi league was well known all the way through the summer months.

At one point, there were even reports of him working both jobs, which as someone in such a vital role, in a club the size of Liverpool, feels strange and chaotic at the best of times.

How much Hughes actually was involved with the Reds’ business will likely come out in the weeks following his almost certain departure, however his final window on Merseyside felt nothing short of lacklustre.

It is now up to their new head coach to work some magic, whilst also hoping that certain players stay fit, otherwise massive holes will start to appear in the squad very quickly.

Featured image of AXA training ground taken last October: Alex Ridout