Will Liverpool’s inactive summer backfire?

Jurgen Klopp has played down the chances of Liverpool (9/4 – Premier League Outright) making any significant summer signings – with the Reds boss instead content with what he’s already got at Anfield.

Klopp oversaw another season of great progress last term as Liverpool finished second, just a point behind Premier League winners Manchester City (8/13 – Premier League Outright), before going on to win the Champions League.

Klopp believes his squad is good enough to mount another title challenge, but is it foolish not to try and improve his options from a position of strength?

Liverpool have splashed the cash in the past 18 months, signing centre-back Virgil van Dijk for £75million, goalkeeper Alisson Becker for £56million and midfielder Naby Keita for £52million, among their biggest outlays, but this summer things are very different.

The Reds have brought in teenage defender Sepp van den Berg from PEC Zwolle for just £1.3million but there have been no major signings and Klopp, speaking after the opening 6-0 pre-season friendly win over Tranmere Rovers, doesn’t expect to be busy with many more first-team arrivals.

He said: “The transfer market is open. We will see what we do but I don’t think it will be the biggest transfer window of all time.”

Klopp has lost free agents Daniel Sturridge and Alberto Moreno from his first-team set-up but is ready to put his faith in 19-year-old academy star Rhian Brewster, who scored two against Tranmere, while he also believes having Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana and Joe Gomez all fully fit will feel like new signings.

Some of Liverpool’s possible title rivals this season – City, Tottenham and Manchester United – have all spent big money already this summer to strengthen and some fans are worried they are missing a trick in not trying to improve the squad, even just slightly, after such a fantastic season.

But Klopp is adamant he will turn to the club’s rising stars if he deems them good enough, with Harry Wilson, Ryan Kent and Ben Woodburn among those on the periphery of the first team hoping to be given a chance.

If he can keep everyone fit this season, there is no doubt Klopp’s squad is good enough to compete for the major trophies once again (Liverpool – 8/1 – Champions League Outright), but only time will tell if the decision not to dip significantly into the transfer market is a wise one.

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