The first of two Premier League fixtures this Sunday takes us to Anfield as Liverpool play host to West Ham. These two teams have been incredibly active in the transfer market over the course of the Summer and it will be interesting to see how the respective new look sides take shape.
For Liverpool they have bought in a quartet of signings, the one that has grabbed the most headlines is the capture of Alisson Becker from Roma. The Brazilian international was signed for a world record fee for a goalkeeper as Jurgen Klopp looks to finally solve what has been a long-term problem era.
Also joining Becker at Anfield this season is midfield duo Naiby Keita and Fabinho who make the move from RB Leipzig and Monaco respectively. Keita was actually signed last year but the deal has only just been completed.
Therefore, it is a transfer that has been hotly anticipated by Liverpool fans, and the extra addition of Fabinho will further bolster a midfield which has lost Emre Can to Juventus and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to long term injury.
The last of the quartet to now call Liverpool home is that of Xhedran Shaqiri. The Swiss international joins from relegated Stoke and will perhaps have to make do with a bit part role this time around due to the talent that stands in front of him.
On his day Shaqiri can be an incredibly dangerous player, the question though is whether or not that day comes around enough. Manager Jurgen Klopp has certainly signed a talent here but it is one that may need a heavy amount of man-management to go with it.
Their opposition West Ham have also wasted no time this Summer with not only new faces on the pitch but also off of it. David Moyes was not retained after keeping the club in the Premier League, with the club’s owners opting for Manuel Pellegrini instead.
The man who led Manchester City to the 2014 Premier League table has also bought in no fewer than eight new faces with the pick of the bunch being that of Felipe Anderson from Lazio, a signing that has seen the East London outfit break their previous club transfer record.
Also joining the Hammers is former Arsenal player Jack Wilshere. He was not offered a new contract by their new boss Unai Emery and if he can put his injury woes of recent times behind him then Arsenal’s loss could be West Ham’s gain.
Although West Ham have been busy in the market there is the potential for it to be a case of quantity rather than quality and they could still do with an out and out goalscorer, however they have at least purchased the kind of players that should keep them clear of the relegation zone.
As for this weekend, Liverpool will look to put the bitter disappointment of their Champions League Final defeat to Real Madrid behind them and what better way to do so then by earning all three points. Something they are more than capable of doing come Sunday, this should be a comfortable home win.