In January of 2021 there was understandable anger around Liverpool's lack of activity in the transfer window.
A season that was threatening to go off the rails, a defensive injury crisis that left Jurgen Klopp reliant on fringe and youth players such as Nathaniel Phillips, Rhys Williams and Neco Williams, and the additions of two defensive back up options for the combined sum of around £3m in Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak did little to aid the mood among the Anfield faithful.
Klopp and his squad managed to drag themselves over the line to finish third after a fine end to the season, but they were well off the Liverpool side that had taken on all comers to lift the Premier League crown in 2020.
