Liverpool's biggest summer mistake is now very clear

Liverpool’s biggest mistake over the past three summer transfer windows has now become glaringly apparent. The club’s bold spending has reached new heights, with a jaw-dropping £650 million invested since winning the Premier League in 2025. However, their pursuit of players has left gaps in the squad that threaten their competitiveness.

A glaring omission is the failure to sign a replacement for Curtis Jones. The decision to let the talented midfielder depart without securing a successor has left the Reds’ midfield in disarray. Now, as the season progresses, Liverpool finds itself desperately in need of another elite midfielder to bolster their squad.

Among the players who have been linked with a Merseyside move, Elliot Anderson emerges as the club’s biggest misstep. The 23-year-old Nottingham Forest product has been linked with Liverpool for some time and ended up signing for Manchester City for £116 million. Anderson is widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s best midfielders, and he proved his worth on his debut for City, having a stellar performance against Liverpool.

Liverpool’s recruitment team will surely be reflecting on this decision now. If Anderson had joined Liverpool instead of City, his contribution could have significantly improved the squad's depth and competitiveness across all fronts. The Reds have demonstrated their willingness to sign high-profile players in the past, as evidenced by their signings of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak for a combined £240 million in the same window.

However, the outlay for Anderson and Bradley Barcola would have been almost identical, and the squad would have been better equipped to compete at the highest level.

Manchester City's recent guilty verdict could pose a significant problem for Liverpool. The Citizens have been found guilty of over 100 rule breaches and face a potentially crippling punishment. If City are relegated and forced into a fire sale, Elliot Anderson should be the top priority for Liverpool as they desperately seek to strengthen their squad to compete with City at the top of the table.