The media was in agreement over Liverpool’s summer transfer window, voicing excitement for the possibilities in attack, but criticising the lack of quality and depth.
Liverpool’s summer transfer window ended with four new senior signings for the current campaign, with centre-back and the wings the only areas bolstered.
Richard Hughes and Co. neglected to add any right-back, midfield, or right-wing options, despite knowing ahead of time that the head coach would need them.
With the deadline for new signings having passed, the media assessment of the Reds’ window shared a common theme.
How the media reacted to Liverpool’s 2026 summer transfer window
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, October 4, 2025: Liverpool's sporting director Richard Hughes during the FA Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, October 4, 2025: Liverpool's sporting director Richard Hughes during the FA Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While Liverpool added four senior squad members to the squad that equal those that left in the summer, the overwhelming consensus is that the club have left Andoni Iraola short.
BBC Sports‘ Aadam Patel noted the long-term approach from the club, but that it has left them with a “lack of quality squad depth”:
“On the basis of their first two Premier League games, there is certainly a feeling that Liverpool have left themselves short after their struggles last season.
“Where concern lies is the lack of quality squad depth at the back and the absence of an out-and-out defensive midfielder but Iraola’s side will end the window having made the second most expensive signing of the summer in France forward Barcola, who chose the Reds despite interest from other clubs including Arsenal.
“The average age of Liverpool’s first-team signings across the past two windows is 22 and that suggests a long-term approach at Anfield. But, given their struggles in their first two games, this feels like a squad that could have done with more additions this summer.”
The Telegraph‘s Mike McGrath ranked Liverpool in 14th place when it came to successful summer windows, as he too noted the lack of options at right-back and midfield:
“There are questions as to whether Andoni Iraola will be short at right-back, although Ronald Araujo may cover that position. Curtis Jones left for Inter Milan and no central midfielder came through the doors.”
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch (R) react to conceding his side's fourth goal during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CHICAGO, USA - Sunday, August 2, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch (R) react to conceding his side's fourth goal during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While Liverpool’s signings in isolation are promising, the overall picture had the Athletic‘s James Pearce fearing “they will pay the price in the months ahead,” even if there’s “no shortage of firepower”:
“An unconvincing start to the season had only served to intensify concerns over whether they possess sufficient quality and depth at right-back and in midfield.
“Neither department has been strengthened, and it requires a sizeable leap of faith to believe those areas of weakness can simply be addressed by new head coach Andoni Iraola working with what he’s got on the training field.
“Liverpool’s priority all summer was to buy pace out wide and they achieved it with the exciting signings of Munoz and Barcola. Jeremy Jacquet looks like a decent replacement for Ibrahima Konate and getting Ronald Araujo on loan provides extra cover given the defensive injuries.
“The fear remains that they will pay the price in the months ahead for not doing more in the market given the issues at full-back and in midfield, but there’s certainly no shortage of firepower.”
Liverpool, meanwhile, “might find their ambitions live or die” by their decision not to sign a midfielder, which is the view of the Liverpool Echo‘s Paul Gorst:
“The choice to not replace Curtis Jones, now of Inter, feels like the biggest roll of the dice from Richard Hughes and the football operations department at Liverpool.
“With Iraola favouring a two-man pivot in the engine room, the Basque coach effectively has three senior players vying for those spots in Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
“Trey Nyoni is a teenager with vast potential and Wataru Endo is a versatile squad option who has barely featured in the Premier League these past two seasons.
“In that sense, Liverpool might find their ambitions live or die based on the decision not to sign a midfielder.”
The Independent‘s Kieran Jackson was kind by giving the Reds’ window a B grade, aided by Bradley Barcola‘s arrival and hampered by failing to replace Mo Salah:
“The long-awaited signing of Bradley Barcola brings an injection of excitement into Liverpool’s window but, as so adeptly described by my colleague Adam Clery in his latest YouTube video, it’s a bit like buying a Ferrari while your house is burning to the ground.
“It is somewhat questionable that they’ve not brought in a left-footed wide option to replace Mohamed Salah.”
Finally, ESPN‘s Sam Tighe labeled the inability to accept an £85 million bid for Cody Gakpo a “disaster” due to poor planning and execution:
“A summer noted for its general inactivity was threatening to come to a quiet end, the early performances on the pitch were alarmingly poor, and what was the club doing to fix that? Calmly lining up deals for talented young players set to join in 2027.
“It’s always good to have an eye on the future, but when the present is causing headaches, it might have been better to divert focus.
“Liverpool were forced to decline an £85 million bid for Cody Gakpo from Manchester City late in the window because they didn’t think they could sign a replacement. That kind of offer is probably never coming around again, yet the club was so unprepared — and lacking in recruitment options — that it had to pass on it. Disaster.”
There is a lot for Hughes and Co. to answer for, but with the sporting director expected to leave and take up a job in Saudi Arabia, who will shoulder the responsibility for the missed opportunities?
Liverpool need to rediscover a clear direction and ensure Iraola is not left short-handed again, as he will be the one left to face media scrutiny.
Iraola, Hughes collage
Iraola, Hughes collage
signings-2026
Football – Pre-Season Friendly – Liverpool FC v AS Monaco
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 8, 2026: Monaco's Lamine Camara during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and AS Monaco FC at Anfield. Monaco won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)