Liverpool are not where they wanted to be heading into the November international break this season.
The Reds had been installed as favourites to win a second successive Premier League title after an unprecedented summer of spending.
However, despite a total outlay of almost £450m in the transfer market, Liverpool have regressed and currently sit eighth in the Premier League table.
Huge signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have both failed to hit the expected heights, while the likes of Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez have also disappointed.
There is still plenty of time for each player to turn things around, and Liverpool fans will hope they can. But if almost one third of the season now consigned to the past, Rousing The Kop thought it a good time to rate each of the Reds’ eight summer signings for their time at Anfield so far.
Giorgi Mamardashvili – 7/10
Despite technically joining Liverpool in 2024, Giorgi Mamardashvili made his first appearance for the club this season and can be considered a new signing as a result.
As felt inevitable, the Georgian has had plenty of chances after seeing Alisson Becker pick up a hamstring injury in September.
Mamardashvili has been between the sticks ever since, and although he has not been perfect – and Liverpool have been poor – the 24-year-old has shown why the Reds were so keen to get him signed up.
Freddie Woodman – 5
Along with Mamardashvili, Freddie Woodman arrived this summer in a total revamp of Liverpool’s goalkeeping options.
Woodman may not have expected to have even played for the Reds this term, but Alisson’s injury meant he got the chance during October’s Carabao Cup clash with Crystal Palace.
While the 28-year-old was not necessarily at fault for any of Palace’s three goals on the day, it is also clear that he cannot be relied upon to play with any kind of regularity.
Jeremie Frimpong – 4
Isak and Wirtz may have taken most of the headlines, but Frimpong has arguably been equally as disappointing during his time with Liverpool so far.
There were some positive signs during pre-season, where Frimpong showed off his pace and ability to play in several positions.
A goal on debut in the Community Shield was a welcome surprise, but injury has since limited him to only nine appearances.
Unfortunately, Frimpong has been poor when he has played, and it has been tough to see the thinking behind bringing him in as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s nominal replacement. A strange signing.
Milos Kerkez – 3
If Frimpong has been bad, Kerkez has been even worse. The Hungarian was supposed to take the reins from Andy Robertson after a super season with Bournemouth, but has now seen the veteran reclaim his place.
There have been some decent performances thrown in from Kerkez, notably in the win over Arsenal, but in general he has looked like a rabbit in headlights.
Recent claims that Arne Slot has lost faith in Kerkez appear justified, and the 21-year-old has a fight on his hands to shift Robertson once again. The marauding full-back seen in his Bournemouth days has been replaced by a cautious and erratic player who does not look up to standard.
Hugo Ekitike – 7
Had these ratings been completed a month or so ago, Hugo Ekitike could easily have scored an eight or even nine out of 10.
Unfortunately, the Frenchman has gone off the boil a little of late, and has only one goal in his last eight appearances.
Nevertheless, six goals in 16 games is not a bad start by any stretch, and some of Ekitike’s all-round play has been a joy to watch at times.
Hopefully the former Eintracht Frankfurt man can go up another gear once Slot’s tactical plan to fit him and Isak in the same team can be consistently realised.
Giovanni Leoni – N/A
80 minutes into his Liverpool debut, Giovanni Leoni looked like a superb addition. The 18-year-old was an incredibly commanding, composed presence during September’s win over Southampton.
Sadly, after 81 minutes, his debut season ground to a halt, as Leoni was stretchered off with a serious knee injury.
Liverpool fans will not see the youngster for a long while as he recovers. However, he showed enough in only one appearance to highlight just how high his potential is.
Who has been Liverpool’s best summer signing?
Florian Wirtz – 4
The most talked about addition for Liverpool this summer has undoubtedly been Wirtz. Frustratingly, most of the talk has been for all the wrong reasons.
Wirtz has just not got going at Liverpool so far, failing to provide a single goal or assist in 11 Premier League matches.
The German did set up a couple in the Champions League, but his return of three assists and no goals in 16 matches is simply not good enough for a £116m player.
There have been some very good moments, and Wirtz has not been as bad as some would lead you believe, but there is no question that Slot and Liverpool will have expected much, much more.
Alexander Isak – 5
Like Wirtz, the spotlight has understandably been on Isak this season. Sadly, just like his German counterpart, the Swede has also failed to deliver.
One goal and one assist in eight appearances does not make for great reading, even if there are plenty of mitigating factors.
Isak has been impressive in snatches and took his only goal very well indeed, but Liverpool fans would have liked more to show for his time at the club so far.
His lack of fitness heading into the season means Isak deserves a little more grace than some of his fellow new arrivals, but if he does not begin to find the net soon, he will be consigned as an expensive failure.
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