Liverpool faced a turbulent end to the 2025/26 season and a summer window that tested the patience of even the most loyal supporters. Among the earliest and most pressing concerns was Liverpool's goalkeeper search, with genuine uncertainty surrounding whether Alisson Becker would remain at Anfield. Thankfully, that situation was resolved when both parties agreed terms on a one-year contract extension, sparing the club an unwanted crisis between the sticks.
Then came the news that hurt far more; Mohamed Salah had left Liverpool for good. After nine extraordinary years at the club, the Egyptian King walked away, leaving behind a legacy that may never be matched.
Add Andy Robertson's departure, Ibrahima Konaté's move to Real Madrid on a free transfer, and Arne Slot stepping down after two seasons in the dugout, and it is clear that Liverpool have been reshaped almost beyond recognition.
New arrivals, such as Victor Muñoz and Ronald Araújo hint at the direction Andoni Iraola wants to take the club. It will be fascinating to see what Liverpool look like in 2026/27 and whether this new-look squad can genuinely compete on all fronts.
The Salah Void: How Big Is the Damage?
There is no point softening it. Losing Mohamed Salah is a seismic blow. Since arriving from Roma in 2017, Salah rewrote Liverpool's attacking identity. He became the Premier League's most reliable goal threat over a near-decade-long spell, finishing as the division's top scorer on multiple occasions, and contributing directly to some of the most memorable European nights in the club's recent history.
His departure leaves a gap in both output and mentality, the kind of player who made defenders uncomfortable simply by standing on the pitch.
From a tactical standpoint, Salah's ability to cut inside from the right and threaten goal gave Liverpool a consistent, predictable but nearly unstoppable attacking outlet. No player currently in the squad replicates that exact profile.
Florian Wirtz, who arrived last summer for £116 million, is a technically gifted player but had a frustrating debut season, creating only five big chances across the entire Premier League campaign and scoring just six times. That return simply does not justify the investment, and Iraola will need to find a way to unlock Wirtz far more effectively than Slot managed.
Iraola's Arrivals and What They Signal
Victor Muñoz's arrival from Osasuna is an intriguing piece of business. The Spanish winger brings energy, directness, and a willingness to press, all qualities that align perfectly with what Iraola demands from his wide players.
At Bournemouth, Iraola built a team around relentless intensity and rapid transitions, and Muñoz fits that template well. He is not a like-for-like replacement for Salah, but he does not need to be. Iraola appears to be building something different rather than chasing a carbon copy of the Klopp or Slot systems.
Jérémy Jacquet from Rennes adds depth at the back, though his deal was actually agreed before the season ended. The young Frenchman is composed in possession and reads the game well, but he will need time to adapt to Premier League intensity.
Given that Virgil van Dijk is entering the final stretch of his elite career, and Joe Gomez's injury during pre-season has stretched defensive options thin, Iraola himself admitted the backline is very thin; Jacquet may be asked to contribute sooner than expected.
The Players Who Must Step Up
Alexander Isak has the potential to be the central figure in Liverpool's attack this season. The Swedish striker joined from Newcastle United last summer for a Premier League-record £130 million but managed only eight league starts due to injury.
When fit and firing, Isak is one of the most technically complete forwards in the country; his movement, finishing, and ability to hold up play make him ideally suited to the kind of quick-transition football Iraola favours. A full pre-season without disruption could be the catalyst for the breakout campaign Liverpool paid for.
Hugo Ekitike's situation adds another interesting dimension. The Frenchman was actually Liverpool's top league scorer last season, which says a lot given Isak's absence. His return from a ruptured Achilles tendon means Iraola could eventually have both forwards available, though fielding them together as a front two would place significant demands on the midfield.
Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister both looked leggy at times last season, and the defensive cover they provide to the back four will need to improve considerably. Dominik Szoboszlai, who has committed to Liverpool until 2031, adds quality in advanced areas but using him as a number ten pushes Wirtz wider, which may not be where the German is most effective.
Trophy Prospects: Realistic or Wishful Thinking?
Slot won the Premier League title in his debut campaign at Liverpool, which now looks like something of a false dawn given what followed. The 2025/26 fifth-place finish was a genuine shock for a club of Liverpool's stature, and it exposed structural problems within the squad that a change of manager alone will not fix.
Iraola has a strong track record; what he built at Bournemouth was genuinely impressive, but taking on a club mid-rebuild, with key figures gone and new signings still finding their feet, is a different challenge entirely.
Domestically, Liverpool will likely fight for a top-four place before genuine title contention becomes realistic.
The FA Cup and Carabao Cup offer Iraola an early opportunity to deliver silverware and build momentum, and both competitions could suit a well-drilled, high-energy side. In Europe, Liverpool narrowly clung to their Champions League status last season, and they must prove they still belong among the continent's elite. A deep run in the competition would do wonders for the squad's confidence.
What makes this moment genuinely exciting, rather than simply uncertain, is that Iraola has a proven philosophy, a group of elite players who need direction, and a fanbase hungry to see Anfield restored to its best. The rebuild is real, the challenges are clear, but so is the potential. If Iraola can organise this squad and get the best from Isak, Wirtz, and the new arrivals, Liverpool could surprise a few people before this season is done.
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