da bet nacional： Though the Reds have brought in some reinforcements this summer, they are still short in key areas as they aim to bounce back after last season's woes

da spicy bet： From quadruple-chasers to Premier League also-rans – Liverpool suffered quite the fall from grace in the space of six months. The suddenness of the slump took everyone by surprise, but there is no getting away from the fact that there had been concerns over the squad's strength in depth in midfield for some time, and there was always the fear that the decision to wait for Jude Bellingham was going to backfire badly.

So, an overdue overhaul was required this summer and Liverpool began brightly, by activating buy-out clauses to bring in Alexis Mac Allister, from Brighton, and RB Leipzig's Dominik Szoboszlai – two slick, attack-minded players with an eye for goal.

There was clearly still a gaping hole in the middle of the park, right in front of an undeniably brittle backline.With both Fabinho and Jordan Henderson having accepted money-spinning moves to Saudi Arabia and Thiago Alcantara once again recovering from injury, Jurgen Klopp had no experienced No.6 to call upon. Well, he's emphatically addressed that area now, with news breaking late on Thursday night that the Reds had agreed a British-record £110 million ($140m) deal to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton.

There are also ongoing concerns over the wisdom of playing Trent Alexander-Arnold as an inverted right-back, in light of the counter-attacking opportunities the 3-2-5 offensive shape offers opponents down the left flank, while the Reds really could do with another top-quality centre-back.

With Caicedo added, Liverpool do appear in a much stronger position to bounce back from last season's fifth-placed finish, although Europa League football is likely to prove far more of a distraction than a benefit. Klopp, though, insists that the 2020 champions will be a "contender" this season – and we'll soon find out if he's right…

Getty ImagesRealistic Expectations

Liverpool were always likely to be physically and mentally drained after a 2022-23 campaign in which they played a whopping 64 games. A hangover was inevitable. It just lasted a lot longer than everyone expected, Klopp included.

The question now, of course, is whether Liverpool have sufficiently recovered to re-establish themselves as the only credible threat to City's dominance of English football. Klopp says his side simply cannot compete with the Abu Dhabi-backed club, at least in the transfer market – which obviously has a major say in who's successful on the field – and that's been proven again this summer.

Liverpool have finally pumped some money into their under-resourced midfield, but it's clear that greater investment is required if they are to have a serious crack at the title because, right now, Liverpool just don't look strong enough from a defensive perspective to get close to City.

However, a top-four finish is still well within this squad's grasp, primarily because of their formidable forward line. Indeed, do not be surprised if Liverpool score more goals than anyone else in this season's Premier League.

The Europa League could prove an inconvenience from a logistical perspective but, at the same time, it also represents an opportunity for Klopp to rest his most important players – a luxury their primary top-four rivals will not have – and give more precious experience to an exciting crop of youngsters.

At the very least, this season promises to be far more exciting than last.

Advertisement(C)GettyImagesBest-case Scenario

Moises Caicedo is on his way to Anfield and although Jones may be required the stop-gap No.6 in the first game against Chelsea, the problem should now be solved for the long-term. Even as a back-up, though, Jones certainly doesn't lack confidence and Klopp has plenty of faith in the local lad, who finished last season strongly before going to play a key role in England's victory at the Under-21 European Championship.

"In possession, there’s no doubt that Curtis can have a massive impact from that position," the manager told reporters earlier this month. "I think his development in the last few months since he was with us is remarkable.

"He was held back especially by the last injury, which was really not helpful, wrong moment, too long, everything. [The injury] looks stable since and the Euros gave him, for sure, confidence. So, having him on the pitch makes sense."

However, when asked if that meant playing Jones in front of the back four, Klopp's response didn't exactly sound like a ringing endorsement, "If nobody else is there, he can play [that role] definitely."

The dream for Liverpool is that Caicedo slots in seamlessly and plays it so well that Fabinho isn't missed. In such an ideal world, he'll mesh perfectly with Mac Allister and Szoboszlai, simultaneously providing sufficient cover for an over-exposed back-line, and the perfect platform for the fantastic forward line to fire a rampant Reds side to a surprise title triumph.

(C)GettyImagesWorst-case Scenario

Liverpool miss out on Champions League football for the second successive season, prompting Klopp to quit a club he loves because of his frustration with the Fenway Sports Group's refusal/inability to spend as much money as the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United in the transfer market.

It may seem a little far-fetched, but it's not beyond the realms of possibility. Certainly, as it stands, a top-four finish is by no means a guarantee with Liverpool preparing to kick-off their campaign without a recognised defensive midfielder – an immense and understandable source of frustration for the fans, including Jamie Carragher.

The risk, of course, is that the Reds, even with Caicedo, will remain horribly vulnerable to the counter-attack, particularly with Alexander-Arnold likely to be once again tasked with playing as an auxiliary midfielder – a risky but rewarding play that contributed significantly to Liverpool going unbeaten during their final 11 games of last season.

So, if Klopp doesn't have all of the players they need to pull off this delicate balancing act, the whole thing could once again come crashing down.

Getty ImagesThe MVP

Mohamed Salah is Liverpool's most valuable player in the strictest sense of the term, in that he guarantees the most precious commodity in the game: goals. Even during a desperately trying 2022-23 campaign for his team, the Egyptian still struck 30 times in 51 appearances – and Klopp will need another prolific season if the Reds are to have any chance of challenging for the title.

In reality, though, everything hinges on the defence, meaning the dual role of new captain Virgil van Dijk is of the utmost importance.

First of all, he has a responsibility to ensure that neither standards nor heads drop this season, which will not be easy. Van Dijk has already admitted that he can understand why the supporters have "doubts" over the strength of the squad. As he pointed out himself, it wasn't just his predecessor Henderson who departed, vice-captain Milner has also gone, taking with him a huge amount of experience, drive and determination. Liverpool have other leaders, of course, but Henderson and Milner will arguably be missed more for what they contributed off the field – than on it.

However, Van Dijk's most important assignment – which he simply cannot afford to fail – is restoring order to a backline that was in total disarray at times last season, and worryingly porous in pre-season. To do that, he has to lead by example. It's time for the most expensive defender in the world to prove that he is also still its best.