CLUBS are splashing the cash this summer as they look to bolster their squads in the transfer window ahead of the new season!

Arne Slot stood in front of the cameras and microphones and there was no fear in his voice when he was asked if Liverpool were the favourites for the Premier League title this coming season he smiled a little and said yes Liverpool can be seen as favourites but he quickly reminded everyone that football is not played on paper and that a lot has changed in the summer he was calm but he was also clear that Liverpool’s summer of change means there is still some uncertainty about how things will go he said it is true they won the league last season by a wide margin and it is true that they have spent almost 300 million pounds on new players but football has a way of surprising you and there are always things that money alone cannot control the Dutch coach spoke about pressure expectation and the unknown that comes with a squad that has been rebuilt in several areas

The summer had been busy at Anfield players coming in players going out fans refreshing their phones for news every hour Liverpool had been champions last season with a style that overwhelmed the league they were ruthless they were strong they were a machine but Slot said that the new season is a new challenge and even if they are favourites there is work to do the Community Shield against Crystal Palace was coming up and it was the first chance for fans to see the new team in a competitive game and also the first small trophy of the season Slot said that even though it is not the Premier League or the Champions League the Community Shield can set a tone for the months ahead and he wants Liverpool to start as they mean to go on

The investment in the squad had been huge almost 300 million spent and the names brought in were exciting for supporters some were proven stars from other leagues some were young players with big futures the transfer window had been one of the most aggressive in the club’s recent history but with big spending comes big expectation and big pressure Slot admitted that he knows what people are saying about Liverpool he knows rival fans will talk about the money and the pressure and he knows that media will build Liverpool as the team to beat but he also knows that a lot of his new signings have never played together before and that chemistry takes time

He said that you can buy talent but you cannot buy time and you cannot buy the natural understanding that comes when players have shared the pitch for months and years he said his job is to make that process as fast as possible because the Premier League does not wait for anyone there is no slow start allowed when you are the champions and every other team wants to beat you Slot also talked about the fact that even last season’s team had weaknesses and that opponents would have learned from their defeats and tried to find ways to hurt Liverpool this season and that is why the work in pre season has been so intense

Supporters are dreaming of another title run and maybe even more than that Liverpool were so dominant last season that talk of a treble or quadruple was in the air even before a ball was kicked this time but Slot is a coach who prefers to keep things grounded he said yes we are favourites but we also have to earn it all over again he reminded the room that Manchester City Arsenal Chelsea and others have also strengthened and that the gap between the top teams is never as big as it looks from the outside he said the Premier League is too competitive for any team to relax

The summer of upheaval he talked about was not just about players coming in but also about important players leaving the dressing room changes when big personalities go and new ones arrive there is a different energy and it can take time to find the right balance he knows that Liverpool’s spirit and unity were a big part of their success last season and he wants to protect that even as the squad changes he spoke warmly about the leaders in the team and how important they will be in helping the new signings settle quickly

There is also the challenge of integrating players from different leagues and styles the Premier League is faster and more physical than many other competitions and some players need time to adapt Slot said that while fans will expect instant impact from the new signings he is prepared for the reality that some will take weeks or months to reach their best he said that part of his job is to protect those players from too much criticism too early and give them the space to grow

Liverpool’s spending has made headlines but Slot said it is not just about the money it is about making the right choices in the market he believes the club has targeted players who fit not just technically but mentally he wants players who can handle the pressure of playing for Liverpool and who understand what it means to fight for trophies every season he said that recruitment is about the right personality as much as the right talent and that the new arrivals have already shown hunger in training

When asked about favourites he admitted that it is better to be in that position than to be ignored it means you have done something right but he warned that being favourites also means every opponent gives their best performance against you there will be no easy games Liverpool will be a target every week and that is something the players must be ready for he said that the mindset must be right from day one and that complacency is the enemy of champions

As Sunday’s Community Shield approaches there is excitement to see how Liverpool will line up and how the new faces will blend with the old ones for Slot it is another step in the preparation for a long season he said the Shield is not the ultimate goal but it is a chance to win a trophy and build confidence winning breeds winning and starting the season with silverware can only help the mood in the squad he said that even in a so called friendly every game matters because it sets habits

Liverpool fans are filling social media with line up predictions and debates about who should start and what formation Slot will use some want to see all the big signings thrown in at once others think it is better to bring them in gradually Slot said he will choose based on what he sees in training and on what is best for the team in this moment he said his focus is not on making a statement with a line up but on building a team that will last the whole season

There is also the question of injuries and fitness some players are still coming back from knocks and some are not yet at full sharpness Slot said that the physical condition of the squad is improving but that he will not take risks at this stage of the season the long term is more important than one match even if it is a final he wants Liverpool to be strong in April and May when trophies are decided

He also spoke about the fans and how their energy will be needed again he said Anfield is a weapon and that Liverpool’s away supporters are just as important he said the connection between the team and the fans was one of the most powerful things he saw last season and he wants to keep that alive he believes that when players feel the fans behind them they run more fight more and believe more

The journey to defend the title will be long and hard and Slot knows that every season has its twists and turns there will be moments of joy and moments of pressure he said the key is to stay calm and stay focused no matter what happens to take each game as it comes and not think too far ahead he said that when you are at Liverpool every match is like a final because of the expectations

He was asked if the new players are ready for that and he said they will learn quickly because at Liverpool there is no choice but to adapt he said the senior players are already helping them understand the standards in training and the demands on and off the pitch he said that when you put on the Liverpool shirt you represent more than just a football club you represent history and a way of playing that fans around the world expect to see

Slot also said that while Liverpool’s style will stay true to its principles there may be some changes to adapt to the new players he said he is not afraid to make tactical adjustments if it helps the team and that flexibility can be important over a long season he said that opponents will study them and try to find weaknesses so Liverpool must always be ready to surprise as well

In the end he came back to the main point yes Liverpool are favourites yes they have spent big yes they are the defending champions but none of that will matter if they do not work harder than anyone else he said the hunger must be even greater than last season because defending a title is harder than winning it the first time he said he has seen teams fall away because they think they have made it but he will not allow that here

For Liverpool the road starts again on Sunday against Crystal Palace it will be the first small test in a season full of big ones the first chance to see if this rebuilt team can carry the weight of expectation the first chance for Arne Slot to show that last season was not the peak but just the beginning of something bigger the fans will watch the players will fight and the journey will unfold one game at a time but the message is clear Liverpool will aim high again and they will do it with the eyes of the football world upon them.