Liverpool has been handed a potential fresh challenge in the next few days, as a Premier League rival has strengthened once again before the transfer window closed.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
The summer transfer window has now closed, and Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola now knows the group of players he will have to work with for at least the next few months.
The Reds signed four players, welcoming Jeremy Jacquet, who had already signed earlier this year, before bringing Ronald Araujo, Victor Munoz, Bradley Barcola, and Lucca Brughmans to the club.
It's now up to the head coach to fit all of those pieces together to create a team that is capable of winning games and challenging at the top again, something that could take some time based on the early evidence.
Liverpool has picked up two draws from the opening two games, fighting back to earn points against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest in Premier League action.
READ MORE: Monaco chief teases 'better options' for Lamine Camara after Chelsea collapse and Liverpool links
READ MORE: Richard Hughes could come back to haunt Liverpool immediately as Anfield exit imminent
Attention turns to the next opportunity to pick up a first win, as the Merseyside outfit travels south to take on newly-promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Friday night.
It's a clash that offers a chance to add three points to the board against a team that has caused some challenges in the games it has played so far, picking up a win over Sunderland before a defeat against Manchester United.
Considering Liverpool's difficulties with defending counterattacks, there are clear concerns that players like Julio Enciso and Daizen Maeda could cause some damage, but the Tractor Boys have equally strengthened in the transfer market before the meeting on Friday.
Ipswich announced the transfer deadline day signing of Zian Flemming from Burnley in a deal worth roughly $27 million, with the striker offering some immediate quality to the team, especially following an injury to Emersonn in the side's defeat to Manchester United.
(Image: Getty Images)
Flemming has plenty of experience of the Premier League, scoring 11 goals for a Burnley side that was comfortably relegated in 19th place. That is a total that equals Hugo Ekitike in the division last season, while Cody Gakpo is the only other player to come close with seven goals in the league last time out.
It adds yet another threat to the Ipswich forward line that Liverpool will need to be wary of, not least because he is fit and available after playing almost every game for Burnley so far this campaign.
Whether the Reds can call upon its new threats remains to be seen, as Bradley Barcola could be in line for a debut after his arrival from PSG, but he has lacked a preseason.
That may mean that Iraola has to stick with a similar team to the one that featured against Nottingham Forest last time out, with Victor Munoz certainly making a case for him to be involved from the start once again, having won a penalty and scored a goal in his first two appearances.
It remains to be seen how Liverpool will fare against another team that likes to thrive in space, with fans hopeful that a win could finally kickstart the season.