Liverpool should only be expected to win the Premier League title once they have signed more targets, Reds transfer expert David Lynch has claimed.
The Merseysiders claimed all three points against Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday after winning 4-2, but the club looked vulnerable at the back.
Striker Hugo Ekitike managed to score on his competitive debut, though Arne Slot's options from the bench looked somewhat limited despite the fact Federico Chiesa came on to net a late winner.
Speaking to Sports Mole, Lynch argued that Slot would be well positioned to retain his title if more deals were completed, saying: "Looking at the squad where it is now, if they get the additions they want - Isak and Guehi - that would be the best squad in the Premier League.
"[Coupled] with a manager that proved he can win this league, there should be expectation on him and they should be the favourites to win it, but those deals haven't quite been done yet, and Liverpool look a touch short in a couple of areas at the moment that put question marks over them.
"We'll see at the end of the window, but the hope is that they get who they want. If they do that, they will be favourites, but we're not quite there yet, albeit it's a very good squad they've put together as it is."
Liverpool have been strongly linked with Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak and Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, and the duo would considerably strengthen the squad.
Liverpool's Federico Chiesa celebrates scoring with Dominik Szoboszlai on August 15, 2025
Will Alexander Isak and Marc Guehi be enough for Liverpool?
Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk were paired together against Bournemouth, but the former struggled throughout the game, and it is not clear if Slot can rely on backups Joe Gomez or Giovanni Leoni.
Forward Chiesa has been linked with an exit all summer, but though it looks as if he will stay at Anfield, the club will undoubtedly need at least one more attacker considering Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz were sold, as well as the fact that Diogo Jota tragically passed away.
Despite spending significant amounts, Lynch insisted that the club have the capacity to - and need to - spend more, when he told Sports Mole: "Slot said in the press conference on Friday about that if you look at Liverpool's spending, it has been pretty hefty, but the net spend is not that crazy.
"They've been outspent in terms of net spend by plenty of clubs so far this summer. Even if they had Isak, there are sales to come. There's potential for Tsimikas to go, Harvey Elliott will get a hefty fee in himself. That can bring that net spend right down again.
"Luis Diaz, Nunez off the bench, and Slot went to great lengths to make this point in a tasteful way, but he was right to say they've lost a player in Diogo Jota, who was very important. He was a fantastic footballer as much as he was a person, and they don't have him as an option anymore."
The £25m transfer of Ben Doak to Bournemouth has been completed, and the Reds have now generated over £200m in sales this summer, and they should be able to comfortably spend in the remainder of the window.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot pictured on August 15, 2025
Could the 2025-26 Premier League be a season of transition?
It would be surprising if the players that have joined Liverpool this summer did not take a period of time to settle into their new environment.
Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure and Andrew Robertson's relegation to a squad role means two of the starting back four from 2024-25 have been taken out of the first XI, while one of Dominik Szoboszlai or Alexis Mac Allister is likely to be benched in favour of Florian Wirtz.
When asked if 2025-26 will be a season of transition, Lynch expressed his view that the Reds will still challenge for the title, telling Sports Mole: "It's a bit of a worry. Is that turnover going to be an issue? We've seen those defensive teething problems. Will they continue into the season?
"What helps Liverpool is City might not bound away as they would typically do. They won't be as bad as last season, but I'm not sure they're going to be utterly dominant, judging by their business so far, and Arsenal fans don't seem too happy with how they're looking.
"Liverpool have added real quality and they've already got incredible quality throughout the team as well, so I don't think we should be lowering our expectations to top four, but that title race will be a bit tighter this time because Liverpool might not start as well as they have previously."
Liverpool began the 2024-25 season with seven wins from their first eight Premier League games last term, losing just once.
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