When Diogo Jota netted Liverpool's first Premier League goal under Arne Slot at Ipswich in August, very few would've predicted him to score just five more times last season.
And if you'd suggested that Darwin Nunez would only manage five league goals himself, it would've been a struggle to find anyone confident enough to predict Liverpool as England's soccer champion. But the Reds went on to win the title, and they've been busy improving with the summer acquisitions of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez. Trent Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, has gone to Real Madrid.
Rarely has there been such an opportunity to tweak a Premier League-winning squad, with Slot's remarkable impact in his debut season providing the ideal springboard for the Dutchman to put his own stamp on the team.
It'll be intriguing to see how these changes pan out, particularly in attack, where the most exciting modifications are expected this summer, especially with the addition of the impressively adaptable Wirtz.
Where he'll fit into the team is yet to be determined, but even without his arrival, the futures of Jota and Nunez were set to be under the microscope during the off-season due to their disappointing 2024-25 campaigns. But as attention shifts to potential departures from Anfield following a wave of signings, both players find themselves in very different situations.
Nunez, the Uruguayan forward who has netted 40 goals in 143 appearances for Liverpool, is attracting serious attention from Napoli. The Italian champions are rumoured to be prepared to shell out up to £60 million ($81.6 million) for his services.
Jota, pictured here celebrating a Mohamed Salah goal, scored in Liverpool's 2024-25 opener against Ipswich
Jota, pictured here celebrating a Mohamed Salah goal, scored in Liverpool's 2024-25 opener against Ipswich (Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Despite a somewhat disappointing three-season stint at Anfield, Liverpool remains confident it can recoup a fee close to the initial £64 million ($87.1 million) it paid Benfica for Nunez in 2022. There will always be a market for a player of his calibre.
Having just celebrated his 26th birthday on Tuesday, Nunez is seen as the enigmatic bad boy with untapped potential waiting to be harnessed.
On the other hand, Jota, who will turn 29 this year, is being eyed with more scepticism by potential suitors and those keeping a close watch on Slot's summer decisions.
The Portuguese forward began last season as the preferred choice in attack under the new manager, effectively sidelining Nunez until he sustained a rib injury against Chelsea in October.
Liverpool kept the severity of Jota's injury under wraps, but it's believed to have caused the ex-Wolves man significant discomfort for much of the rest of the campaign, resulting in sporadic appearances on the pitch.
Jota, who joined Liverpool in 2020, made a significant impact on the club's feared front three of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah. However, his injury record has often been a point of contention.
Finding a market for Jota is challenging, and it's debatable whether Liverpool is even interested in one. In previous summers, it might have been sensible to offload him following a difficult season, but with Nunez likely on his way out and Federico Chiesa expected to follow, it might be wiser to hold back.
After all, there's only so much that can happen in one summer, and considering Liverpool's extensive to-do list, which includes signing a forward, the Reds might decide to play it safe with the attackers they currently have.