Liverpool's Massive 2025 Transfer Splurge Screams for Results—Yet Reds Continue to Disappoint

Liverpool have won just one of their opening four matches in the 2026–27 Premier League campaign, with a goalless stalemate against Fulham joining earlier draws with Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest. Yet Reds icon Jamie Carragher is refusing to point the finger at Andoni Iraola.

Iraola was brought in during early June after the club chose to part ways with Arne Slot, just a year after the Dutchman guided them to only their second Premier League title in 35 years.

Slot was dismissed after struggling to leave his own mark on Liverpool following a record-breaking transfer outlay the previous summer. Yet despite a dip in individual performances, Carragher argued during his appearance on Sky Sports Monday Night Football that the issues persist regardless of who is in the dugout. The responsibility now lies squarely with the players.

"I'm placing no pressure or blame on the manager—it hasn't been a great start—but we're now at a point with this group of players where what we witnessed last season simply wasn't good enough for this club," Carragher explained.

"They changed the manager because of last season, and the Liverpool hierarchy were essentially saying, 'We have quality players [but] you're not getting enough out of them.' Fine. The new manager arrives [but] you can't then say he needs transfer windows to fix things."

"It's very early days, but these players have been well below par for quite some time. The start to the season has been really disappointing, and Liverpool haven't faced tough fixtures. Honestly, Liverpool should have 10 points by now.

"No Liverpool fan will be looking at or questioning the manager. This season will be defined by the players, so for me, and the majority of Liverpool supporters, we'll be watching those players and thinking you need to deliver a whole lot more."

Liverpool's $900 Million Transfer Spend Demands Success

Jürgen Klopp departed at the close of 2024–25, drawing the curtain on his decade-long tenure at Anfield. Only Federico Chiesa was added ahead of Slot's first season, with the Italian making minimal impact due to injury and featuring in just six Premier League outings. It was, in every practical sense, still the squad Klopp had assembled.

The difficulties emerged when the club attempted to reshape the roster. On paper, the Reds appeared stronger after committing $604 million (£448.5 million) across eight signings.

Trent Alexander-Arnold departed for a nominal fee following a contract mismanagement that had begun two years prior, but Jeremie Frimpong was touted as a capable replacement. Darwin Núñez's exit was no great setback, while Luis Díaz was sold at a significant profit and also appeared to be adequately replaced.

Mohamed Salah indirectly suggested that Slot had drifted away from the high-intensity, pressing style that made Liverpool so formidable under Klopp. The Reds turned to Iraola, renowned for championing that very approach at Bournemouth, and splashed a further $293 million (£217.5 million) on Bradley Barcola, Jérémy Jacquet and Víctor Muñoz—bringing the combined outlay across two summers to nearly $900 million (£668.5 million).

Liverpool have strengthened across every position and, given the scale of that investment, should be picking up victories far more consistently than they currently are.

Liverpool First-Team Signings Since Summer 2025

Fees include add-ons