Liverpool head into the weekend’s
Merseyside Derby sitting pretty in second place with 23 points, just two points
behind leaders Arsenal. It has been a surprising start of the season for both
of the top two teams, with many expecting Chelsea and Manchester City to
contend a two-horse race after their string of exuberant signings over the
summer – Willian (£30mil), Andre Schurrle (£18mil) and Marco van Ginkel (£8mil)
for Chelsea; Fernandinho (£30mil), Jesus Navas (£15mil), Alvaro Negredo (£20mil)
and Stevan Jovetic (£22mil) for Manchester City.
Both Liverpool and Arsenal were
fairly prudent in the transfer window, making sensible signings rather than
splurging big on one player (until the Gunners signed Mesut Ozil on deadline
day). Liverpool signed the likes of Iago Aspas, Luis Alberto, Simon Mignolet,
Tiago Ilori and Mamadou Sakho for a combined £45mil, much of
which was offset by the sales of Andy Carroll, Jonjo Shelvey, Stewart Downing and Jay Spearing for a total of £28mil.
which was offset by the sales of Andy Carroll, Jonjo Shelvey, Stewart Downing and Jay Spearing for a total of £28mil.
