No slot, no salah… no problem?
Any team would struggle to fill the gap left by the departure of arguably the Premier Leagues best ever forward player. But, that is exactly what Liverpool will hope to do as the players return from the break and begin to look towards the start of the new season. With plenty of change from what was a disappointing second season for outgoing manager Arne Slot, not least the departures of club legends Mohamed Salah & Andy Robertson and the arrival of a manager in Iraola who is without doubt taking the biggest step up of his career, the feeling of Reds fans is one of equal parts cautious optimism & uncertainty. With the season opener at St James' Park fast approaching, there is plenty to unpack around what is bound to be a transitional season for England's most successful club.
So How Did We Get Here?
When Jurgen Klopp stood in front of the Anfield crowd in May 2024, taking his last moment as Liverpool boss to serenade his soon-to-be successor in front of an adoring Kop End, it felt to many like a new dawn for Liverpool football club. And in many ways, it was; a team entrenched in Klopp's DNA, led by a record-breaking 47 goal involvements from Reds' main man Salah, took the premier league by storm, and once they got started never looked like slowing down until the league was all but wrapped up.
Heading into the summer, the departures of underperforming Darwin Nunez & explosive winger Luis Diaz, followed by the tragic passing of electric forward man Diogo Jota, left the squad suddenly looking thin on the ground compared to barely 2 months before. The arrivals of Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak & Hugo Ekitike for a total nearing £400 million were greeted by jubilation from the fans, and as the season got underway, it was hard to convince a Liverpool fan - or any other fan for that matter - that the Reds weren't clear favourites to go back-to-back.
This pre-season optimism was soon snuffed out, as a fast start was followed by 6 losses in 7 through october and november, and another run of 1 win in 7 games in the new year. The heavy-metal, high pressing, never-stop approach of the Klopp era and of the previous season soon gave way to slow, uninspired possession, an inherent lack of creativity and a defence which just couldn't stop leaking goals. As fan confidence jumped to lows unfamiliar during the previous managers tenure, tactical failings meant that Liverpool had suddenly taken a massive step in the wrong direction once Slot implemented the style that had served him so well at Feyenoord. A discontent Salah, as well as fury from the fans at an unwillingness to try and fix a clearly broken tactical setup, sealed Slot's fate. Despite whimpering to 5th place and a Champions League spot - which in all honesty was only due to the dire performances of the other big 6 teams that would usually occupy those positions - Slot's time was up, and following the end of the season it was announced that Iraola would be taking the reins going into 2026/27.
The New Gaffer
So who is Andoni Iraola? Fans of the premier league will be familiar with his exploits over 3 years at mid-table regulars Bournemouth, who in 25/26 achieved European qualification for the first time in their history. Prior to that he spent 4 years in Madrid, taking Rayo Vallecano to the top flight of Spain at the first time of asking and keeping them there, claiming victory over both Barcelona and Real Madrid along the way.
Fans of Liverpool who witnessed the dramatic change to a heavy-metal gegenpressing style when Klopp took charge can expect something similar from Iraola, with focus placed on high-intensity, fast paced attacks and shifts from a compact defensive shape to aggressive man-marking when the opportunity arises. Iraola's style at Bournemouth favoured direct vertical attacks, with 2.98 passes per sequence one of the lowest in the division; Bournemouth also ranked 3rd last term in shots from fast breaks, with 119, and 18 of these fast breaks resulted in goals. Another aspect of Iraola's play style which will no doubt feature at Liverpool is his use of wingers to stretch opposition back lines, with both wingers expected to be versatile enough to play on either left or right throughout the season depending on the structure of the opposition defence. We have seen Iraola get the very best out of players during his time at Bournemouth, with the best example being Antoine Semenyo, who was eventually sold to Manchester City in January 2026 for 7x the amount he was bought in for after 4 prolific seasons at the club. One would expect to see a similar trend with some of Liverpool's apparent under-performers from last season, namely Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez - whom Iraola has experience coaching at Bournemouth - as well as further developing the established talents such as Dominik Szoboszlai, and nurturing young maverick Rio Ngumoha into an established premier league star.
Transfer Business - The Summer so Far
There can be no doubt that this is a season of massive change at Anfield. For the first time in almost a decade, the Reds will be without talisman Mo Salah; they will be hard pressed to find a replacement who can reach the heights of the Egyptian King, but maybe one is already emerging. To learn more about the effect young Rio Ngumhoa could have on the upcoming season, look out for my next piece - "Rio Ngmuhoa - the heir to the Egyptian King's throne?"
For now though, let's look at the arrivals and departures we have seen, or can expect to see, before the Premier League kicks off on 23 August.
Mo Salah
There is maybe no other player who has had a bigger impact on the premier league in the last 10 years than Liverpool's electric right winger; it goes without saying that his output and presence on the pitch will be greatly missed by players and fans alike. But, much like the departures of Klopp, Mane, Firmino, Gerrard and Suarez, times will have to move on - and move on quickly - or the Reds risk being left behind in what is building up to be the closest top of the table in years. The Reds will have to re-assess their attacking tactics, but a shift of focus to the other attacking talent they have in their arsenal might not be a bad thing.
Andy Robertson
Despite the left-back not always contributing the same headline-grabbing goals as his Egyptian teammate, the loss of one of Liverpool's longest serving players can't be understated. Contributing 69 assists in 378 games across all competitions, with 60 in the premier league - ranking 2nd all-time for a fullback only behind former team mate Alexander-Arnold - Robbo's attacking output and defensive work rate will be sorely missed in a side that is already lacking defensive depth. I think most Reds fans would agree that Robertson's time at Liverpool came to an end at the right time - with Kerkez joining in the summer of 2025 and Tsimikas returning from loan, a player of his undoubted quality would surely feel hard done by had he spent the 26/27 season on the sidelines.
Ibrahima Konate
Konate was among many players who last year failed to reach the heights of the title-winning campaign. A handful of solid defensive displays clearly weren't enough to persuade Liverpool's owners to break their wage ceiling and renew his contract, and he was snapped up on a free transfer by the Real Madrid higher-ups. His performances last campaign probably werent an honest reflection of his time partnering Virgil Van Dijk; nevertheless, although it rarely doesn't feel like a mistake to let a player walk out the door without commanding a transfer fee, if the wage demands really were that high and there was no room for negotiation, it perhaps feels like the lesser of two evils.
Jérémy Jacquet
Undoubtedly Liverpool’s biggest summer signing at the time of writing, €60 million addition Jeremy Jacquet will hope to step into the team alongside an aging Van Dijk and establish himself as a reliable option at centre-half. The young Frenchman ranked highly in Ligue 1 last term for aerial duels won & chances created for defenders, two statistics that his veteran Dutch partner also excels in. The manager will be hoping that Jacquet can adapt quickly to the similarly physical style of the Premier League, and provide a solid defensive base on which a new-look Liverpool will be reliant upon to overcome the frailties of last season.
Víctor Muñoz
Víctor Muñoz remains the Reds’ only major attacking business so far this summer. The 23-year old World Cup winner is a product of the prestigious La Fabrica youth system, having moved away from Los Blancos in summer 2025. The 25/26 season was certainly a breakout compared to his previous forays into first team action; a solid, if unremarkable, 6-goal La Liga campaign proved enough for FSG to pull the trigger on a reported €40 million release clause. However, being clinical in front of goal is something that can be developed with experience; and with age on his side, Muñoz’s high ranking for successful dribbles and almost 3 shots per 90 throughout the 25/26 season are promising signs of a willing attacking talent. Few around the club are expecting Muñoz to be an immediate replacement for the outgoing Salah; however, his development under Iraola is definitely worth keeping tabs on as the season progresses.
Transfer Rumours
There’s only so much to be said about transfers that are yet to happen. In the age of Fabrizio Romano and instant updates, it seems as if every day a new saga is developing that might come to fruition - or not. The current deal dominating the headlines is a potential deal involving PSG front man Bradley Barcola, with suggested figures reaching the dizzying heights of £140 million. The back-to-back Champions League winner would bring a wealth of experience in spite of his relative youth, and his undoubted quality in front of goal combined with his versatility across the front 3 will surely be a huge addition to the squad. Aside from Barcola, Liverpool must surely look to strengthen their defensive options; but with no obvious targets in their sights and a multitude of defensive signings already being made by the other English big-hitters, time is starting to run out if they are to secure a game-changing signing before the season starts.
Trey Nyoni - One to Watch?
Any player who arrives at Liverpool and immediately breaks a record is always one to watch. That's exactly the case with Trey Nyoni, who at 16 years and 243 days became the Reds youngest ever FA Cup appearance maker in February 2024, joining a list that before him included Harvey Elliot, Curtis Jones and perhaps most notably a young Michael Owen. This was followed 11 months later by becoming the youngest Liverpool player to feature in Europe, breaking a record held since 1992 as he took to the field as a substitute against PSV in January 2025. 14 appearances through the 25/26 season, including 6 in the premier league, cemented his place on the fringes of a stacked first team squad, and under a manager who was at times criticised for a lack of faith in young players, this was a statement that he was obviously showing enough in training to be in the thoughts of the manager come matchday.
The young playmaker could find himself nearer the top of the midfield pile under the new regime; his direct, press resistant vertical play could be one of the keys to success in Iraola's system. Of course, he will have his work cut out to be starting every week; Dominik Szobszlai established himself as a mainstay in the starting eleven last season, and one would imagine Florian Wirtz has to come good eventually. The German did show promising signs towards the end of last season, but it remains to be seen whether a relationship will develop between him and the rest of what will be a new-look forward line. As for the rest of the midfield, Nyoni's game time may rely on whether Ryan Gravenberch or Alex Macallister return to the high standards they displayed in the title-winning campaign; if they don't, Nyoni will surely be waiting in the wings to take his opportunity if it should present itself. Another area for which the 24/25 season was lacking for the Reds, was their ability to break down teams playing a low block. Nyoni's demonstrated in pre-season and throughout his youth career an innate ability to make composed, progressive passes, and a two-footedness that could be the key to breaking down the resolute defences the Reds will come up against when playing teams in the lower half of the table.
What I expect from Liverpool this season
It is at this stage perhaps difficult to predict how exactly the Reds will line up at St James Park in late August, with plenty of transfer business hopefully still to be done. As it stands, one would expect the back line to remain widely unchanged: the safe hands of Alisson between the sticks, the pace and attacking threat of Frimpong and Kerkez at full back, Van Dijk maintaining his position at centre half, and Jacquet - or Leoni, who is almost a new signing himself - slotting in to replace the outgoing Konate. In midfield, Gravenberch will hope to return to the form he displayed in 24/25, and Szoboszlai is surely nailed-on to provide quality both going forwards and in transition. The third midfield spot has a question mark hanging over it, though, as Argentinian Alexis Macallister may find it tough to return to his best, and a midfield partnership of Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz perhaps leaves the Reds too vulnerable in defence. As for the forward line, young Rio Ngumoha will look to push on from his breakout season and cause trouble on the wing, perhaps floating crosses into a revitalised Alexander Isak. Isak is definitely a player with something to prove this year; his enormous price tag combined with an iniury-stricken year left Liverpool fans wanting more from him last season. As for the final of the attacking positions, should Wirtz not be chosen to play in midfield, Iraola may see fit for him to provide extra creativity from the left flank; or, we may see a debut for Victor Munoz - or even, if the peices fall into place, what is sure to be a spectacular introduction to the league by incoming Bradley Barcola.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, the Reds will hope to quickly put the disappointment of the 25/26 campaign in the rearview mirror, and return to the very top echelons of the English game. Their final league position may depend heavily on the teams around them; Arsenal, having finally reached the summit, may struggle to push on for another year; City are in a similar transitional position to Liverpool; Chelsea have strengthened their squad, but we have seen in recent seasons they maybe don’t have the tenacity to push a title race until late in the season; and Manchester United have surely grown tired of the ‘interim manager bounce turns to collapse as soon as a permanent contract is signed’ gimmick by now and will hope that Michael Carrick can break the curse. As for the other sides in the division, Spurs will surely have a point to prove after 2 dismal seasons in a row - but other than them, it seems unrealistic than any other side has the depth, or the quality to really push for a top 2 spot. That is to say, then, that I predict Liverpool to be in and around that top 2. I do think the title might be a step to far, and that by the time this squad is up-and-running, leaders may be out of reach; but they certainly have the quality to be in the conversation.
My prediction: Liverpool to finish 2nd behind Arsenal in the Premier League. Watch this space for my full Premier League predictions. As for the other competitions, I predict early-ish (by Reds’ standards) exits from the domestic Cups down to the lack of overall squad depth - and hopefully a Quarter-Final appearance in the UEFA Champions League.