Five things we learned this transfer window
The transfer window has come and gone with minimal activity, but conclusions can still be drawn about how the club plans to handle their business in the future.
No messing about
Despite positive loan spells for Carvalho and Van den Berg, the club had no qualms about moving them both on to Brentford. True, both transfers involved sizeable sums and chunky sell-on clauses, but the departures dashed any dreams that the duo may have had about making the cut at Anfield.
Van den Berg may not have been surprised, given his almost permanent loan status since 2021, but this summer was a harsh reality check for the Portuguese midfielder, who was only signed two years ago. Clark, headed for Salzburg for £10 million, may also feel that his time on Merseyside ended prematurely.
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The same can be said for Blair, who, after nine years at Anfield, left for Portsmouth this summer. This doesn't have to be a bad thing, however, with permanent transfers often preferable to lengthy loan cycles (Exhibit A = Chelsea). Regardless, the message from the club seems to be clear: if we can't guarantee you minutes, you are free to go.
Faith in the squad
Whether it's down to FSG's stinginess, the club's historic (and often successful) caution and opportunism or simply a lack of good options in the market, the executives at Anfield have decided that the squad that Klopp left this summer is good enough.
Last season's midfield revamp and the meteoric rise of stars like Quansah and Bradley means that the squad is in a very good place. There is healthy competition in almost every position across the board, and the younger players clearly understand that development into the first team will not happen overnight.
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The uncertain outcomes of contract negotiations for Van Dijk, Salah and Trent mean the squad may be in a very different place next summer, but for this season, Slot has a fantastic starting XI and reserves to work with.
Opportunistic as always
In Liverpool's transfer moves both fulfilled and unrealised, the club once again showcased the trademark opportunism in the transfer market that has brought them so much success in recent years.
The clever arrangement for Mamardashvili's signature brokered a cheap deal and ensured Alisson's place between the sticks for at least another year, while Chiesa's low transfer fee speaks for itself.
While the bid for Zubimendi ultimately failed, the club's willingness to go all-in on the midfielder and pay his release clause of over £50 million was a signal of intent. The Spanish midfielder was a prime target in a pretty depleted market of No 6's, and once it was the clear that he wouldn't move, the club resolved to wait until January or beyond for a defensive midfielder.
With clubs like Chelsea operating like a FIFA career-mode save, it is refreshing to see Edwards and Hughes bide their time in the transfer market. It remains to be seen, however, if this approach leads to brilliant acquisitions or a failure to address urgent problems in the squad.
Waiting on a No 6
On a related note, this summer has confirmed fears that the club are playing a risky game in defensive midfield. Either they are waiting for the perfect holding midfielder to crop up in the market or they are hoping that a solution will present itself in the current squad.
Last season revealed something of a hole in the middle of the park. Mac Allister filled in for a while, but his creativity and guile was wasted in such a deep position. Endo filled in fantastically, but looked like a stop-gap until the club could bring in or develop a ball-playing, press-resistant No 6.
Meanwhile Bajcetic, who has shown exactly these qualities in glimpses during the 22/23 season, struggled to recover from an adductor injury and has now been sent on loan to reunite with Pep Lijnders at RB Salzburg.
Slot's arrival, however, has simplified this midfield dilemma. His use of the double pivot places less responsibility on a holding midfield 'destroyer', the role that Fabinho played so exceptionally under Klopp.
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Gravenberch's integration into this role is proof that Slot isn't looking for a traditional No 6, but rather a defensive-minded midfielder that shares the Dutchman's capacity to keep the ball, carry it progressively and play forward passes.
Between the abundance of options for this profile - Jones, Gravenberch, Morton and even Szoboszlai could all partner Mac Allister in midfield - and the club's willingness to wait for the perfect defensive midfielder, we shouldn't expect to see a new face in the middle of the park before next summer.
Phillips may never leave Anfield
Poor Nat. Many Reds may have thought that, with the astonishing trajectory of Quansah's success at centre half, Phillips may be allowed to leave for new pastures. A guarantee of game-time is the least he deserves after his heroics alongside Williams in that torrid 21/22 season.
We could not have been more wrong. The 27-year-old has been dispatched to Derby County this time, to bolster the Rams' defence in their bid to stay in the Championship after promotion last season.
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Is the decision to keep Phillips a domino-effect from Van den Berg's departure, and the consequent weakening of depth in defence? Or is Nat's life-force tied to Anfield, so that he has to stay here until he retires? Either way, we hope that the defender has a great campaign in Derbyshire!