Jamie Carragher has said that Liverpool’s 2025 summer transfer window could end up being “arguably the worst” in Premier League history.
On the back of winning the league in Arne Slot’s first season in charge, Liverpool spent £450 million ($614m) gross on seven players, including £125 million ($171m) on Alexander Isak and a potential £116 million ($158m) on Florian Wirtz.
But, other than Hugo Ekitike, each of the new arrivals on Merseyside struggled to make an impact during their first season as Liverpool fell to fifth place and Slot was relieved of his duties.
After the likes of Isak and Wirtz struggled to make an impact in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Newcastle, Carragher has offered a damning assessment of last summer’s business.
“It’s the first game of the season, but my fear is this window of 12 months ago could set Liverpool back a year or two, to fix it,” he said.
“Yes, it’s one game under Iraola, but we’re talking 12 months of underperformance from all of these players except [Ekitike].
“If this doesn’t change in the next two or three months under Iraola, and these players improving, I think we’re going to be looking at that as arguably the worst transfer window we’ve probably seen in Premier League history, when you consider the fees for these players, and what it’s going to do for Liverpool.”
On the back of the departures of four established first-team players this summer in Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konaté and Curtis Jones, Iraola’s team on Sunday contained four signings from last summer: Isak, Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.
“The idea of these players wasn’t just coming in and being good players,” Carragher said. “It was to create almost a little dynasty for Liverpool.
“Let’s not forget, Liverpool won the league two years ago. These [players] were supposed to do what City have done over the last few years, or United in the past, where they go and win two or three leagues in five years.”
Wirtz in particular faced criticism from the former Liverpool defender, who said: “This thing that it takes people a year to settle in the Premier League, I think is a bit of a myth. I don’t think there’s too many examples where it does.
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He added: “I don’t think we’re seeing a massive underperformance. I think what we’ve seen for a year is probably what he is, which is a neat and tidy footballer.
“Not a player who should be worth £110m, someone who probably should be £50m-60m, something like that. Neat and tidy, lovely touch. I’m not sure what people are expecting.”
Liverpool are next in action against Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday.
