Liverpool ended last summer's transfer window as the highest net spenders in the Premier League, despite signing only three players to permanent deals. Much of that outlay came from the £123m paid to Paris Saint-Germain for Bradley Barcola, which followed Jeremy Jacquet's £60m switch from Rennes and Victor Munoz's £34.5m arrival from Osasuna.
Ronald Araujo has impressed on loan from Barcelona, but with the January window approaching and Julian Ward back as sporting director after Richard Hughes stepped away in September, attention is turning to recruitment. Ward and head coach Andoni Iraola speak regularly about all facets of the club, and talk will soon shift towards transfer plans.
Right-back remains a concern
Since the start of last season, Liverpool have used nine different players at right-back: Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, Dominik Szoboszlai, Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, Ronald Araujo, Wataru Endo, Victor Munoz and Ryan Gravenberch. Calvin Ramsay makes it ten, having featured in a Carabao Cup exit to Crystal Palace last year.
Bradley is the heir apparent but has been out injured since January with no imminent return. Frimpong has yet to prove he can stay fit or convince on the pitch. Araujo has been excellent defensively but is not a natural attacking right-back, having been deployed there as a centre-back 'doing a job' who has given the team a combative edge.
Liverpool need a right-back whose specialist position is right-back, and one who can stay fit. Bradley has yet to play a prolonged spell at Anfield, with his most Premier League appearances in a season standing at 19, and only 15 after Alexander-Arnold left. Tino Livramento, Pedro Porro and Michael Kayode are all at clubs where Liverpool would feel confident of doing a deal.
Attack and midfield needs
By January, the squad should look healthier, with Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike potentially back. The defence may need attention with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas out of contract, Araujo scheduled to return to Barcelona, and question marks over Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, but the returns of Leoni and Bradley could allow Liverpool to leave the backline until the summer.
The attack still looks lop-sided after failing to bring in a natural right-winger to succeed Mohamed Salah. If Federico Chiesa is moved on, there may be scope to address that in January, though any signing could have a knock-on effect for Cody Gakpo. Michael Olise would be a dream target, but persuading Bayern Munich to sell mid-season would be difficult. Liverpool could revisit interest in Yankubu Minteh or Ismaila Sarr, though their injury-plagued first halves make any pursuit a gamble.
Midfield is the position most in need of addressing. Alexis Mac Allister and Trey Nyoni have impressed, but Liverpool need a more natural number six. Wataru Endo is out of contract next summer and has yet to play this season, so an exit could free up space for a new arrival. Lamine Camara is an obvious name, with Liverpool continuing to be linked with the Monaco man since his summer move to Chelsea fell through, and signing the Senegalese would address an ongoing issue dating back to last season.
