Top of the Premier League with maximum points, having just enjoyed an all-timer of a transfer window too, things could hardly look any better for those of a Liverpool persuasion.
On Sunday, as the champions faced the challengers at Anfield; to describe the game as cagey would be an understatement, but it was the home side who snatched the points, with Dominik Szoboszlai's astonishing late free-kick downing Arsenal.
Dominik Szoboszlai scores for Liverpool-1
Dominik Szoboszlai scores for Liverpool
Having also enjoyed dramatic late victories over Bournemouth and Newcastle, Arne Slot's side are sitting pretty at the top of the table, with a trip to Burnley, followed by a Merseyside derby, to come after the international break.
Meantime, things are going pretty well off the pitch as well, with the Alexander Isak saga finally coming to an end on deadline day, the Swedish international striker getting his wish by leaving Newcastle for Liverpool for a reported fee of £125m.
Big striker moves in summer 2025 transfer window (timeless)
This is the second time this summer that Liverpool have broken the Premier League transfer record, having signed Florian Wirtz for £116m in June, while a further £204m has been spent to recruit Jeremie Frimpong, Miloš Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Hugo Ekitiké and Giovanni Leoni, taking their summer spending splurge to £450m.
Thus, the reigning champions have to be favourites to retain their Premier League title, however, would this Slot super team be even more impenetrable had they signed a Jürgen Klopp target who has become "one of the best players in the world"?
Where Alexander Isak will fit into Liverpool's attack
The most frightening aspect for Liverpool's title challengers is that it's not like they were finding goals hard to come by before smashing the British transfer record on Monday.
Isak's Premier League record before joining Liverpool (timeless)
Isak's Premier League record before joining Liverpool.
Yes, they were largely stifled by Mikel Arteta's Arsenal on Sunday but, before that, Liverpool scored twice against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield, four times against Bournemouth on the opening weekend and then thrice more at Newcastle on Monday.
Summer signing Ekitiké scored in all three of these matches, to add to the 22 goals he bagged for Eintracht Frankfurt last season, form that has earned him a first-ever senior France call-up over the weekend.
Martinelli-Ekitike
However, could he be the biggest casualty of Isak's arrivals?
When a player is signed for £125m, they are arriving to be first-choice, and the table below underlines why Liverpool are willing to spend big money to recruit the Swede.
Isak - PL stats 2024/25
Statistics
Goals
Goals in the box
Headed goals
Shots
Shots on target
Big chances missed
Goal - xG
Average SofaScore rating
*among forwards only (minimum 30 apps).
via FBref.com and SofaScore
As the table highlights, only Mohamed Salah scored more goals than Isak in the Premier League last season, scoring 23 goals from just 95 shots, of which only 41 were on target, underlining his clinical finishing.
So, the general consensus is that Ekitiké will play off the left, but that's something he's never really done before at any of his previous clubs, namely Vejle, Reims, PSG or Frankfurt, and what would that mean for Cody Gakpo, who signed a new contract only a matter of days ago?
Nevertheless, hoping to play 66 games this season, Slot will want as many attacking options as he can possibly get his hands on.
Federico Chiesa and teenager Rio Ngumoha have been the attackers introduced as substitutes in recent weeks, both scoring crucial late winners in fairness to them, but they'll need more and, well, they've got it, with this a sharp reminder of the tragic loss of Diogo Jota, so often the super sub himself.
Cody Gakpo for Liverpool
Cody Gakpo for Liverpool
With this array of attackers at Anfield, could Liverpool also have signed one of the best midfielders in the world, had Klopp got his way?
Liverpool could have had a world-class midfielder
Back in April 2023, as reported by the Guardian, Liverpool ended their interest in signing Jude Bellingham, with Borussia Dortmund demanding in excess of £135m for the then-teenager.
The report adds that Klopp told Fenway Sports Group to 'move swiftly' amid Real Madrid's interest in the England international and, of course, Bellingham did move to the Bernabéu for around £88m that same summer.
Jude Bellingham celebrates winning the Champions League
Jude Bellingham celebrates winning the Champions League
Well, los Blancos legend Luís Figo believes that Bellingham is now "without a doubt... one of the best players in the world", praising his "talent and commitment".
Since arriving in Madrid, the Englishman has scored 38 goals and registered 28 assists, making his 100th appearance for los Merengues against PSG at the Club World Cup in July, yet to feature since due to a shoulder injury.
Well, the CIES Football Observatory certainly agree with Figo's assertion, believing Bellingham's estimated transfer value to be around £198m, below only Lamine Yamal and Erling Braut Håland in world football, while Isak is 12th on this list with an approximate value of £99m.
Jude Bellingham celebrates for Real Madrid
Jude Bellingham celebrates for Real Madrid
So, while Liverpool have two £110m+ players in their squad, namely Wirtz and Isak, they could have had a third back when Klopp was in charge, choosing to focus on other targets, ending up signing Ryan Gravenberch, who has proved to be pretty handy.
Nevertheless, since the start of the 2023/24 season, Salah, Ekitiké, Isak, Gakpo and Wirtz have scored a combined 209 club goals, so just imagine if they'd added Bellingham's tally of 38 from midfield on top of this.