Jamie Carragher has warned that Liverpool’s £445 million transfer window could set the club back by up to two years, only 12 months after the same collection of signings was expected to establish a new dynasty at Anfield.
The former Liverpool defender delivered his assessment on Monday Night Football following Sunday’s 2–2 draw with Newcastle United. Four members of the 2025 intake started at St James’ Park, but Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez did little to suggest the reconstruction had been completed.
Liverpool entered last summer as Premier League champions and spent heavily to strengthen Arne Slot’s title-winning squad. Isak arrived for a British-record £125 million, Wirtz cost up to £116.5 million and Hugo Ekitike, Kerkez, Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili and Giovanni Leoni completed an overhaul intended to support several years of success.
Instead, Liverpool finished fifth, conceded 53 league goals and dismissed Slot at the end of the season. Andoni Iraola has inherited the squad, along with the less ceremonial task of determining how its most expensive pieces are supposed to fit together.
“My fear is this window of 12 months ago could set Liverpool back a year or two to fix it,” Carragher said.
He stopped short of definitively declaring it the worst transfer window in Premier League history. However, Carragher said it could eventually be viewed that way if the players continue to underperform during the opening months of Iraola’s reign, with Ekitike the only arrival he excluded from his criticism.
Wirtz has become a particular concern. The Germany international recorded five goals and three assists in 33 Premier League appearances last season, while Carragher questioned whether he has a natural position in Iraola’s system.
Liverpool’s continuing vulnerability on the counterattack has also renewed calls for another holding midfielder. That would allow Dominik Szoboszlai to move forward, but could leave the club searching for a place for the player it committed more than £100 million to signing.
The window was intended to provide the foundations for several more titles. Twelve months later, the discussion has moved to how many more players Liverpool require to make those foundations usable.
