Liverpool's pre-season started slowly, with many of the club's biggest players participating in International tournaments in Europe and South America.  Arne Slot officially took up his role as Head Coach on the 1st of June 2024, but it wasn't until early July that Slot gave his first interview as Reds Boss.  Those players not involved in internationals, such as Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah reported back to the AXA Training Complex on the 1st of July to begin pre-season training, with more players joining them throughout the month, as nations were eliminated from the various tournaments they were playing in.

As for pre-season friendlies, Liverpool fans had to wait until the 27th of July to see their heroes back in action, as the Reds embarked on a tour of the USA, playing matches against Real Betis, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Sevilla.  The Reds ended their USA tour with three wins out of three, before thrashing Sevilla in the final pre-season friendly at Anfield.

Summer Transfer Window

Players In

• Giorgi Mamardashvili - Valencia - £29million (player loaned straight back to Valencia for the 2024/25 season)
• Federico Chiesa - Juventus - £10million (rising to £13million with add-ons)

Players Out

• Joel Matip - Free Transfer
• Thiago - Free Transfer
• Melkuma Frauendorf - Hannover 98 - Free Transfer
• Adrian - Real Betis - Free Transfer
• Mateusz Musialowski - Omonia - Free Transfer
• Adam Lewis - Morcombe - Free Transfer
• Anderson Arroyo - Burgos - Undisclosed Fee
• Billy Koumetio - Dundee - Undisclosed Fee
• Fabio Carvalho - Brentford - £27.5million (rising to £30million with add-ons)
• Sepp Van den Berg - Brentford - £20million (rising to £30million with add-ons)
• Bobby Clark - RB Salzburg - £10million
• Harvey Blair - Portsmouth - £300k
• Calvin Ramsey - Wigan Athletic - Loan
• Stefan Bajcetic - RB Salzburg - Loan
• Owen Beck - Blackburn - Loan
• Luke Chambers - Wigan Athletic - Loan
• Ben Doak - Middlesbrough - Loan
• Kaide Gordon - Norwich - Loan
• Lewis Koumas - Stoke - Loan
• Nat Phillips - Derby - Loan
• Marcelo Pitaluga - Livingston - Loan
• Calum Scanlon - Millwall - Loan
• Rhys Williams - Morecombe - Loan

After winning the Carabao Cup, and challenging for the quadruple right up until the end of the season the previous year, Liverpool's squad did not need a major overhaul to be competitive, but fans were still expecting new boss Arne Slot to 'splash the cash' on several new players, as he looked to put his own stamp on the team.

However, Liverpool's summer transfer window started slowly, with Thiago and Joel Matip leaving on free transfers, the only business of note as we moved into July.  As the season drew closer, the Reds had still not signed anyone, with a potential move for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi falling through, when the player decided he wanted to stay at his boyhood club.   Despite having money to spend, Slot and Richard Hughes decided against buying players 'just for the sake of it' and the club began the new season with the same squad that finished the 2023/24 season.

The club was far busier with outgoing players, as Matip, Thiago, and Adrian all left on free transfers before a number of youngsters were moved on, either on loan, or permanent deals.  Liverpool's biggest sale came from Fabio Carvalho, who left for Brentford in a £27.5million move.  Many fans, myself included, were sad to see Carvalho go, but Slot clearly felt he was a luxury the club did not need, and therefore moving him on for a significant fee made plenty of sense.   Brentford also raided Anfield for defender Sepp Van der Berg, with Richard Hughes somehow extracting a whopping £20million for the young Dutch defender.  That fee could rise to £30million with various add-ons, while the club has also secured a sell-on fee.  Another youngster to leave on a permanent deal was midfielder Boby Clark, who followed Pep Ljinders to RB Salzburg for £10million.  Again, the club has secured sell-on and buy-back clauses, so there is the potential for Clark to return to Anfield one day - if he lives up to his potential.

As the transfer window entered its final few days, Liverpool finally secured their first signing, with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili joining from Valencia in a £29million deal.  The deal was definitely one for the future, with the keeper immediately returning to Valencia for the 2024/25 season.  Then just hours before the window closed, Liverpool pulled off something of a coup, signing Italian international Federico Chiesa from Juventus for just £11million.  Chiesa has been plagued by injuries in the last 18 months, but if the Liverpool medical team can keep him fit, then the Reds could have another fantastic attacking option to call on.

Liverpool began their Premier League campaign with a comfortable 2 - 0 victory over newly promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road, as the Arne Slot era got off to a solid start.  The Reds then beat Brentford 2 - 0 at Anfield, before humbling Manchester United 3 - 0 at Old Trafford.  The match was billed as an acid test for Slot and his new regime, but the Dutchman passed with flying colours, as Liverpool out-ran, out-fought, and out-played their old rivals.  The result meant Liverpool went into the first International break second in the table, level with Manchester City on 9 points.  Sadly the break was not good for the Reds, as in their first game back, they lost to Nottingham Forest, before bouncing back with a 3 - 0 win over Bournemouth at Anfield.  Next up was Wolves away, and despite some comical defending, Liverpool eventually ran out 2 - 1 winners, with the result moving the Reds top of the table at the end of September.

The draw for the Champions League 'League Phase' took place on the 29th August 2024, with matches running from the 17th September 2024 to the 29th January 2025.

2024 saw massive changes to the way the Champions League was staged, with the competition expanding to 36 teams, and the removal of the 'group stage'.  Instead of 8 groups of 4 teams, all 36 teams compete in a single league, with each team playing 8 games, 4 at home and 4 away.  The top 8 teams automatically qualify for the 'Round of 16'.  Teams finishing 9th to 24th compete in a knock-out style play-off to secure their spot in the 'Round of 16'.

CL 'League Phase' Draw

Liverpool were seeded 5th for the draw and were drawn against AC Milan, Bologna, RB Leipzig, Leverkusen, Real Madrid, Girona, Lille, and PSV.

CL 'League Phase' Results

Liverpool's Champions League adventure began with a difficult trip to the San Siro, to face AC Milan.  Despite the Reds falling behind to an early goal, the team showed great spirit to run out 3 - 1 winners to get their campaign off to the perfect start.  Bologna were the next opponents, this time at Anfield, with goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mo Salah ensuring Arne Slot's first taste of European football at Anfield ended in victory.

Liverpool were drawn against West Ham United in the 3rd Round of the Carabao Cup, the second year in a row that the two teams have faced each other in the competition, and just like the previous season, Liverpool ran out 5 - 1 winners, with Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones the standout performers for Liverpool.  Liverpool's reward for defeating West Ham was a difficult away match against Brighton.