Reds accused of buying league, Slot slams ‘weird’ link to £100m net spend

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has dismissed the notion that the reigning champions are favourites in the Premier League solely due to their summer spending, insisting that being top of the betting comes down to performance—not financial firepower.

Slot acknowledged that Liverpool have been backed as title contenders, but rubbished the logic that it stems from money spent. “If you won it last season, it’s quite normal that you are part of the favourites again,” he said, pointing out that their championship triumph—not transfer haul—is behind the hype.

The club have splashed nearly £300 million on new talent, including high-profile signings like Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, and Milos Kerkez. Yet Slot was quick to deflate the spending narrative, emphasising that what truly matters is quality—on the pitch, not in the bank.

Transfer activity has been vigorous, but it’s been heavily balanced by departures. The impending sale of Darwin Núñez to Saudi outfit Al-Hilal, expected to fetch around £46 million, has helped bring their net spend down to just over £100 million. Slot described claims that the club is are favourite because of a spending spree as “weird,” arguing instead that their place at the top rests on merit and recent success. 

The head coach was equally clear about the importance of context: “We’ve spent a bit, but lost a lot of players as well.” He highlighted that spending alone would not explain their status, especially when rivals like Arsenal and Manchester City have spent even more.

Slot spoke candidly about the scale of change this summer. Yes, new faces have arrived—but just as many key players have departed, including Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Díaz, and even the tragic loss of Diogo Jota. For Slot, such upheaval far outweighs the bottom line.

Yet, despite the financial firepower, Slot remains measured about expectations. He acknowledges that while the squad boasts top-class talent, the true test lies in adaptation, consistency, fitness—and, ultimately, cohesion. He refuses to credit spending as the decisive edge; instead, he pins the team’s promise on their unity and last season’s triumph. 

Slot also didn’t shy away from the task ahead: Liverpool begin the season in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace, followed by a challenging domestic campaign. Squad depth remains a concern, especially in defence, where injuries and departures have thinned options. Reinforcements are still on the radar—but again, Slot insists it’s about balance, not extravagance.

In essence, Arne Slot’s message is clear: Liverpool’s place among the favourites comes not from how much they’ve spent, but from how they’ve played—and how they’ll continue to play.