Liverpool's decision to hire Andoni Iraola to replace Arne Slot back in June was never going to solve everything for the club. The Reds were still waiting for several of their big-money purchases from last season to settle, while gaping holes in the squad were left by the departures of Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Andy Robertson.
Replacement plans and priorities
Liverpool already had replacements en route for two of those departures - Jeremy Jacquet having agreed to join from Rennes in January and Kostas Tsimikas returning from his loan at Roma - but the high-intensity style of the incoming head coach had led supporters to suspect that a more robust squad would be required.
The Reds' priorities were laid out early: at least one winger and possibly a right-back. Though priorities shifted somewhat on the second of those positions, Liverpool instead signing centre-back Ronald Araujo on loan with a view to also covering on the right, Iraola has welcomed two new wingers in Victor Munoz and French international Bradley Barcola into the fold.
As well as the three contract expiry departures, Liverpool have also since lost Curtis Jones from last season's squad, the Scouser joining Inter Milan on a permanent transfer, while Harvey Elliott has departed on another loan to Valencia after returning from a difficult season out at Aston Villa.
Goalkeeper and defence
In goal, Liverpool are stacked and could quite feasibly register five senior goalkeepers in their Premier League squad for the season. Alisson is the undisputed first choice, with Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freddie Woodman as the other senior options. Alisson's contract will expire next year, and Liverpool are planning for the long-term with the signing of 18-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans, who will arrive in summer 2027.
At right-back, Conor Bradley would be first-choice if fit, but the Northern Ireland captain suffered a serious knee injury against Arsenal last season and Iraola described him as "months" away from a return when asked back in July. Jeremie Frimpong has started the season as first-choice, with Joe Gomez, Ronald Araujo and Dominik Szoboszlai among the other options.
At centre-back, Virgil van Dijk is entering the final year of his contract, with Jacquet, the £60m signing from Rennes, starting the season alongside him. Araujo is another option capable of being first-choice, while Giovanni Leoni is yet to return from an ACL tear and Gomez will likely be fourth-choice upon his own injury return.
Midfield and attack
In the midfield pivot, Liverpool opted against signing a specialist defensive midfielder and will tackle at least the first half of the new campaign with a more technical pairing. Szoboszlai started both of Iraola's first two Premier League games in the pivot to mixed effect, while Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister have been handed a start apiece.
In the attacking midfield role, Florian Wirtz needs to show why Liverpool smashed their transfer record to sign him last year. Szoboszlai was Liverpool's Player of the Season last time out, largely as a No. 10, while Lewis Koumas made himself an option in four positions across the attack.
On the wings, Barcola was the headline name among Liverpool's incomings this summer, signed for £123m, but he was not the Reds' first choice replacement for Salah. Yan Diomande was the target picked out to directly fill the Egyptian King's old position on the right, but the 19-year-old ultimately joined Real Madrid in a £120m deal.
Up front, Hugo Ekitike is out long term with a serious Achilles tendon injury, leaving the pressure on Alexander Isak to live up to his £125m price tag. The Swede has already scored against Forest this season. The question of cover was eased somewhat with the decision to reject approaches for Cody Gakpo, while Federico Chiesa and Lewis Koumas are other options.
As is the case in several positions throughout the squad, Liverpool have left themselves in a position where they are relying on their first-choice options to stay fit - but there is also a lot of pressure on fringe players to reach the levels required if the Reds are to compete on multiple fronts.
