Liverpool took the Premier League by storm in 2024/25 when they steamrolled to the title.
When the legendary Jurgen Klopp stepped down after nearly a decade, Arne Slot came in with big shoes to fill, so naturally, the Reds were expected to go through a period of transition.
But Slot had other ideas. Klopp had already laid a solid foundation, so Slot didn’t have to change too much to get Liverpool back to the devastating red machine they once were.
Slot didn’t need to change the club’s identity. He just needed to restore intensity and balance. Even though they had a quiet summer transfer window, Liverpool were relentless.
Their 26-game unbeaten run from September to April sent shockwaves throughout the division.
Mohamed Salah led the way with 29 goals and 18 assists as the Reds stormed to their 20th league title, leaving Arsenal and Manchester City chasing shadows.
They’d fancy their chances of doing it again next season, and fans will buy Liverpool tickets to see if they can successfully defend the crown for the first time since the early 1980s.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s 2024/25 story was a familiar tale of. They showed early promise but tailed off towards the end of the season.
For the third season in a row, Arsenal crumbled when it mattered the most. They ultimately finished ten points behind the champions, settling for a runner-up spot yet again.
The summer transfer window so far
Both these sides went into the transfer market looking for reinforcements ahead of another potential Premier League title showdown in 2025/26. But only one has made some eye-catching moves so far.
Liverpool kicked off their summer by tying down the backbone of their squad. They got Salah and Virgil van Dijk to pledge their allegiance for at least another two years.
However, that trick didn’t work with Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was ultimately swayed by the dream of playing for Real Madrid, and seems to be settling in well in the Spanish capital.
But that didn’t faze Liverpool. The Reds have a hole burning in their pocket after going through last summer without making any major additions to the squad.
So far, they’re not sparing any expense to build a team that can successfully defend their crown.
Liverpool have already bolstered key areas of the squad with three additions to the title-winning team.
They wasted no time replacing Alexander-Arnold with Jeremie Frimpong, who had been on their radar since his remarkable double-winning campaign with Bayer Leverkusen.
Before joining Liverpool, the flying Dutchman made 190 appearances for Die Werkself, returning 30 goals and 44 assists.
The 24-year-old would be a fantastic signing for Liverpool.
While his addition raised a few eyebrows considering he played more as a right midfielder/winger in Xabi Alonso’s dynamic 3-4-3 set-up at Leverkusen, his £30 million fee could turn out to be a massive bargain.
Liverpool weren’t done raiding Leverkusen. After poaching Frimpong, they went back in to complete the signing of the summer so far, forking out a British record £116m to sign Florian Wirtz.
The dazzling German playmaker was on the radar of several top teams across the continent, including Bayern, Madrid, and Man City. But he chose to join Liverpool.
Wirtz is naturally a no.10 but can play off the left wing, especially in the half space.
He’d have to carry the weight of his transfer fee, but his talent is undeniable and will add depth and quality to the Liverpool frontline.
With Andrew Robertson heading into the final year of his contract, Liverpool thought it was time to sign a long-term replacement and couldn’t have found a better successor than Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez.
Kerkez has caught the eye since coming to the Premier League and would be an excellent replacement for Robertson, who has established himself as a Liverpool legend after nearly a decade at Anfield.
Liverpool have already made three exceptional additions to Slot’s squad, but there’s more in the pipeline.
The Reds are still looking to sign a centre-back and a striker, while there are talks of a defensive midfielder potentially coming in.
Liverpool have burst into life in the transfer market, but the same cannot be said about Arsenal, who are yet to make any significant moves.
The Gunners went into the summer needing to finally sign a prolific centre-forward, a left winger, and a right winger to back up Bukayo Saka.
So far, they’ve only announced a deal to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is expected to provide cover for first-choice shot-stopper David Raya.
Arsenal must step things up in the coming weeks if they want to be taken as serious title contenders next season.
Have Liverpool stolen a march?
Liverpool still need to bolster a few positions, but they could end their transfer business now and still be better prepared for another title battle than Arsenal.
After missing out on the big prize for three consecutive years, you’d think the Gunners would be more proactive with their transfer business. So far, that’s not the case.
A few eye-catching names have been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.
These names will excite match-going fans who buy Arsenal tickets from Seatsnet.com, but it doesn’t count for much if they don’t close any deals.
Arsenal had a line-up of striker targets ahead of the summer window. RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko became a priority when Newcastle United made it clear that Alexander Isak wasn’t for sale.
They have been linked with Napoli outcast Victor Osimhen but are now focusing on Sporting CP rebel Viktor Gyokeres.
The only positive from these tiring transfer sagas is that Arsenal seem more determined to finally land a prolific goalscorer. For many, that has been the missing piece of the puzzle over the last three years.
Reinforcements on the left flank have seen the Gunners linked with an audacious move for Madrid forward Rodrygo. That’s the kind of deal that sends a message to the rest of the division.
Chelsea’s Noni Madueke has also emerged as a target. He’d be a decent addition to back-up Saka.
Liverpool have certainly stolen a march on Arsenal, but there’s still time for the Gunners to get their targets in.
If they can wrap up their transfer activity before the start of the new season, they could be in business.
