There may be big trouble ahead for the Premier League.
Not even the most ardent Liverpool fan could have foreseen a transfer window quite like this one.
Alexander Isak's signing topped off a monumental transfer window for Liverpool
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Alexander Isak's signing topped off a monumental transfer window for LiverpoolCredit: Getty
Their summer activity aligned more with a club that had underachieved the previous campaign, rather than one that had cantered to the Premier League title.
The Reds splashed a whopping £446million on Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni.
And with 25-year-old Isak the eldest of the six signings, Liverpool ominously appear set for the foreseeable future.
Their window undoubtedly rivals that of Real Madrid’s in 2009 when they landed Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Raul Albiol and Alvaro Arbeloa.
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More recently, Paris Saint-Germain believed they had pulled off the window of all windows in 2021 when they signed Lionel Messi, Achraf Hakimi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sergio Ramos, Georginio Wijnaldum and Nuno Mendes.
However, in PSG’s case, it also goes to show that big-name signings alone don’t always make outcomes a foregone conclusion.
With three wins from their opening three Premier League games, Arne Slot’s side already look well equipped to fight on all four fronts this season.
And while focus will undoubtedly be the Reds’ new faces, Slot knows Mohamed Salah will once again be the key man for his side.
But unlike two years ago, Liverpool appear better equipped to cope without their talisman when he heads to Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations in December and January.
Salah could miss as many as six games over the festive period including the Reds’ trips to Arsenal and Tottenham.
Mo Salah no longer bears the burden of being Liverpool's main goal source
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Mo Salah no longer bears the burden of being Liverpool's main goal source
Hugo Ekitike has made a lightning start to life at Anfield with three goals already
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Hugo Ekitike has made a lightning start to life at Anfield with three goals already
The additions of Isak, Ekitike and Wirtz in particular, should help take the burden off Salah this season, according to ex-Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant.
“This is going to give Mo Salah so much breathing space. We always rely on him,” Pennant said on the latest episode of talkSPORT show Inside Liverpool.
“If he doesn’t play well it’s like, where are the goals coming from?
“But now, Ekitike has come in and started like a house on fire. You now bring in Isak and it’s just trouble everywhere.
“Left, right. Goals are coming from everywhere galore.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool fan and broadcaster Ryan Bromilow believes there will be more of a team effort this season with less reliance on the Egyptian and says that this summer’s business is the dawning of a new era at Anfield.
Jermaine Pennant predicts trouble ahead for Liverpool's title challengers
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Jermaine Pennant predicts trouble ahead for Liverpool's title challengers
Ryan Bromilow has described Liverpool's transfer window as the start of the Galactico's era
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Ryan Bromilow has described Liverpool's transfer window as the start of the Galactico's era
“Salah’s comments recently were very telling. He said ‘I won the Premier League for myself last year, I wanted to get that done for me’,” Bromilow said.
“Now it's about the team. I think he is assisting Isak and Ekitike.
“And Isak offers you the best of both worlds as a No.9. He’s lethal, but he can also play across the front line, he can link up play.
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“When you’ve used him for 60-70 minutes and if you don’t put Ekitike on the left, you can bring him on for 20 minutes.
“It’s quite frightening isn’t it? It feels like the Galactico's era has arrived at Anfield,”