Liverpool’s summer transfer business may be complete ahead of pre-season, but it’s a different story for their title rivals.
Liverpool spent four months chasing down Man City in the Premier League title race last season, only to fall just short on the final day by a single point, leaving them to rue two decisions that ultimately cost them dearly. The first was against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Etihad, where the Reds fought out a 2-2 draw when a win would have put them in pole position for the title.
The second came in the penultimate home game of the season at Anfield, where Liverpool was held to a 1-1 draw after falling behind. The Reds only lost three points in 2022, one of which came at Stamford Bridge when they were held to a draw after blowing a 2-0 lead against Chelsea.
With the trio joining Jurgen Klopp’s men in the Premier League’s top four, it would be these dropped points in six-pointers’ that would see the Etihad win the title. After all, if Liverpool were held in each of the return fixtures in the first half of the season, they would finish bottom of the top four mini-league after failing to beat any of their Champions League opponents.
Man City, Chelsea, and Tottenham all picked up eight points as a result of their two draws with the Reds, City’s league double over Chelsea, Chelsea’s over Spurs, and Spurs’ over City. With the Premier League champion being the side that came out on top in this top four mini-league in each of Liverpool’s previous four seasons, it’s clear which games Klopp’s side will have to do better in this season if they want to come out on top.
While the Reds were left as City’s sole title rivals in the second half of last season, it was predicted before the season began that we would have four juggernauts competing to be crowned champions of England after the reigning champions spent £100 million to sign Jack Grealish, Chelsea spent a club-record £97.5 million to re-sign Romelu Lukaku, and Manchester United brought in Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho, and Raphael Varane The Londoners, however, faded once the Belgian faltered and were distracted by takeover talk amid uncertainty about Roman Abramovich’s future at the club, while the Red Devils were a shambles on and off the field and never came close.
Could a multi-horse title race, which never materialized last year, become a reality this season? When it comes to the rest of the ‘Big Six’ transfer business, it’s clear they all mean business.
Liverpool appears to have completed their summer signings after paying a potential club-record £85 million to sign Darwin Nunez as a replacement for Sadio Mane and bring in teenagers Fabio Carvalho from Fulham and Calvin Ramsay from Aberdeen in deals worth up to £7.7 million and £6.5 million, respectively. As a result, with the first team due to report for pre-season training on July 4, Klopp already has his senior squad for the 2022/23 season in place.
However, with their rivals having a much different story, Kopites could be forgiven for feeling envious when looking at the intimidating recruitment going on elsewhere at the top end of the Premier League table.
Man City has signed Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund after activating his £51 million release clause, while Julian Alvarez will join Guardiola’s squad this summer following a £14 million transfer agreement with River Plate in January. Kalvin Phillips is undergoing a medical ahead of a £45 million transfer from Leeds United, while Brighton & Hove Albion defender Marc Cucurella is the club’s next target. In the meantime, goalkeeper Stefan Ortega has joined the Etihad on a free transfer.
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