When Arne Slot and Richard Hughes began plotting how best to upgrade a title-winning Liverpool side, the challenge must have felt daunting.
How can the Premier League’s best, the side that won the title with four games to spare and that which came closest to eliminating Paris Saint-Germain from the Champions League, improve? Given the abundance of elite-level talent at Slot’s disposal, identifying additions to enhance the squad would never be straightforward.
Yet, with a week of June remaining, three definitive upgrades have been made in Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and now Milos Kerkez, with the latter’s arrival confirmed. All three, in their own right, should represent a marquee summer signing. That they’ve joined the champions in the same window, with more additions expected, is a sign of intent from the Anfield decision-makers.
It also marks a significant juncture in many senses. Jurgen Klopp may have left a year ago, and in that time, his successor added a 20th top-flight title, but only now does it truly feel like the Slot era is beginning.
The Dutchman was happy to wait until last summer before making significant changes to the squad he inherited from Klopp; now, he’s molding it in his image. Admittedly, some of those alterations are forced: Trent Alexander-Arnold and Caoimhin Kelleher, stalwarts of the Klopp epoch, wanted to move on; Andy Robertson, Harvey Elliott, and Darwin Nunez may also choose to spread their wings. Replacements were inevitable.
But in choosing Frimping, Kerkez and Wirtz, Slot has changed the balance of the squad and his starting XI. He’s added more dynamism, explosiveness and pace. In short, Liverpool has signed three devastating dribblers.
In doing so, Slot is keeping pace (literally) with the game’s latest tactical innovations. It shouldn’t be overlooked how often the Liverpool head coach referenced the two-legged Champions League defeat to PSG in the latter months of the season and how adding “extra weapons” was needed next season.
The Parisians utilize direct, rapid attacking options better than any side in Europe. This phenomenon has also been witnessed in the Premier League through the likes of Andoni Iraola, Fabian Huzler, and Unai Emery.
Milos Kerkez
Kerkez is Liverpool's fourth summer signing (Image: Getty Images)
Even Pep Guardiola, the mastermind behind soccer’s pivot towards a possession-based system in the last 15 years, has admitted his methods are being left behind. “Today, modern football is not positional. You have to ride the rhythm,” the Manchester City boss opined last season.
Perhaps Kerkez represents this shift more than any of Liverpool's other summer arrivals. The buccaneering 21-year-old replacing the experienced, cool-head Robertson, 10 years his senior, feels symbolic.
The stats underline that contrast. Kerkez completed 106 progressive carries this season in the Premier League, compared to Robertson’s 64. The Hungarian also scores higher for carries into the final third and the penalty area. His successful take-ons register at 46 percent, compared to Robertson’s 39.
On the opposite flank, it’s a similar story. Frimpong registered 100 progressive carries this season compared to Alexander-Arnold’s 51. There were twice as many attempted take-ons from the Bayer Leverkusen man, and over three times the number of advances into the box.
Admittedly, Conor Bradley is also expected to play a significant role as a right-back next term, but he, too, outperforms the outgoing right-back in terms of dribbling statistics. While few will consider Liverpool’s defensive options an upgrade on Alexander-Arnold, they point again to Slot’s need for more drive and flair in the side.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Florian Wirtz is unveiled as a Liverpool player after his signing at AXA Training Centre on June 20, 2025 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Wirtz's transfer was confirmed on Friday. (Image: Getty Images)
Wirtz will bring that more than anyone. This season, no one in the Bundesliga made more progressive carries than Liverpool's new record signing, and he registered almost double the number of goals and assists than Dominik Szoboszlai, whose place in the team is expected to be tweaked following the 22-year-old’s arrival.
Again, Wirtz’s dribbling stats make for interesting reading. In the league this season, he managed double Szoboszlai’s numbers for dribbles in the final third, three times when advancing into the penalty, and over four times for attempted take-ons.
The German will likely prove to be the most integral new addition to Slot’s side. A Swiss army knife of a player, Wirtz’s range of highly accomplished skills is symbolic of what Liverpool has added this summer.
Mohamed Salah will always provide moments of magic; the Reds’ elite midfield will control games and create openings. Now, it has added the direct incision that was lacking at times in Slot’s first campaign.
The success of Frimpong, Kerkez, and Wirtz will ultimately test Liverpool's summer strategy, but that the league's best side has added greater attacking variation and resources, should be seen as an early win for Hughes and Slot's era fully begins to take shape.