When Anfield had last hosted Liverpool, as Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson bade farewell and their teammates embarked on their final lap of honour, Arne Slot had remained sat in the dugout. It proved the last sighting of him in Liverpool. Some 11 weeks later, Slot's successor was a visible presence on the edge of the technical area, Andoni Iraola's constant clapping encouraging his players at the start of a new era. It began with echoes of the old: a 3-2 defeat to Monaco, with a lead lost at Anfield, with a goal conceded to a set-piece, had some similarities with Slot's unravelling, even if the stakes were lower.
Iraola may hope the parallels with last season end when the competitive football starts. As it was, Liverpool outlined why they require Ronald Araujo and how their recruitment is unfinished. They have a left-back - Robertson's replacement is his former deputy, a returning Kostas Tsimikas making his Anfield comeback – but Salah's old spot remains unfilled. Lewis Koumas was a locum in the place of a legend on the right flank; the Welsh winger may be destined for a fourth straight loan spell rather than a run in the team.
Andoni Iraola still has work to do in the transfer market, as was evident in his Anfield bow against Monaco (PA)
His presence was an illustration that Liverpool's business stalled after the June signing of Victor Munoz. They are yet to achieve their main objective. One ambitious target, Yan Diomande, has already eluded them. Another is out of reach as long as there is a significant difference between Liverpool's valuation of Bradley Barcola and Paris Saint-Germain's. There is no point in putting in a bid now when the European champions want well over £100m.
Liverpool have shown a willingness to pay such sums in the past; but their budget is limited now. Their two £100m men from 2025 struck in a way that at least offered optimism they will deliver more this season than last.

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