Liverpool's lack of transfer business under Arne Slot certainly hasn't hampered him as yet – given he's currently led the club to the Premier League summit in his first season.
Having signed only Federico Chiesa in his first two transfer windows, the Dutchman hasn't let the lack of incomings harm him as he's made a stellar start to life in Merseyside. While his side now sit seven points clear of Arsenal, that doesn't mean there aren't areas within the squad in need of improvements.
Andy Robertson has been subject to criticism for much of the season with some fans believing it may be time to bring in a new left-back to phase out the club legend. Despite Liverpool's potency in front of goal, the inconsistency of Darwin Nunez – who has scored just six goals this season – may spell the end of his time at Anfield come this summer.
While Slot is likely to wait until the end of the season to make additions and begin culling individuals who he deems not good enough, Mirror Football looks back at some of Liverpool's best free agent signings.
James Milner
Perhaps the most successful free agent signing in Liverpool's history, James Milner had already enjoyed a 13-year career in the Premier League prior to his move to Merseyside in 2015 from Manchester City. Despite being offered a new deal by the Citizens, the Englishman was keen to play in the centre of midfield rather than be used as a wide midfielder which was mainly his role at the club.
After speaking to Brendan Rodgers who offered him a chance to play in his natural position, Milner jumped at the chance and was immediately named as vice-captain to Jordan Henderson who assumed the captaincy after the departure of Steven Gerrard that summer to LA Galaxy.
Milner became a key member of Liverpool's greatest period of success since the 1980s as he won every major trophy at the club, aside from the Europa League, having spent eight years at Anfield which ranks as his longest spell in his footballing career.
Among the 26 goals and 45 assists he accrued at Liverpool, he broke the record for the most assists in a Champions League campaign in 2018/19 with 11 - a record that still stands to this day.
Joel Matip
Possessing the title of being Jurgen Klopp's first signing at Liverpool, Joel Matip signed a four-year pre-contract agreement with the Reds in February 2016 upon the expiry of his Schalke contract. Prior to his arrival, Liverpool's defence had received much criticism with Dejan Lovren, Mamadou Sakho, and Martin Skrtel failing to impress but Matip's cool and composed manner in the heart of defence earned him plaudits.
The signing of Virgil van Dijk in 2018 provided Matip with a quality centre-back partner as the pair became the most dominant defensive partnership in the Premier League. Despite his consistent performances, his constant injury issues saw him play a bit-part role in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons, playing just 25 games combined.
Matip returned to fitness in the 2021/22 season as Van Dijk's regular partner as the Reds chased down a quadruple but fell narrowly short but did claim a domestic cup double. His last two seasons at the club were injury-hit before he was released in the summer of 2024 as Liverpool turned out to be his last club as the defender announced his retirement from football.
Robbie Fowler
Nicknamed 'God' by Liverpool fans, Robbie Fowler left the club in 2001 as their highest Premier League goalscorer with 120 goals to his name in the top-flight and 171 in all competitions. Gerard Houllier's preference of a Michael Owen and Emile Heskey forward tandem left the former England international in need of regular game-time while a breakdown in relationship with the Frenchman meant that he left his boyhood club in an £12million deal to Leeds.
After an 18-month spell at Elland Road, Fowler left for Manchester City where he went on to spend the next three-and-a-half years of his career before a sensational return to Anfield in January 2006. While he featured in just 39 appearances and scored 12 goals in his second stint at the club to update his total Liverpool goal tally to 183, a new generation of Reds fans' were able to witness Fowler don the Liverpool strip once again.
Markus Babbel
The former Germany international arrived at Liverpool in 2000 as an established winner. Among the 11 trophies he won in his career prior to his move to Anfield was Euro 1996 which he played a starring role in. Babbel was so hell-bent on joining the storied club that he reportedly rejected Real Madrid given he'd already given Houllier his word.
The German was ever-present in his first season in England, playing 60 games and starting every match in the Premier League and the UEFA Cup. The ex-defender collected three trophies in his debut campaign, adding the FA Cup, League Cup and the UEFA Cup to his growing list of honours. He continued his winning run with the Community Shield and UEFA Super Cup the season after – but it all went downhill from there.
Babbel contracted Guillain-Barré syndrome in 2001, making just six appearances in his second season. GBS is a rare nervous system virus that can cause paralysis, and in some serious cases be fatal. He was unable to lift his legs and was resigned to a wheelchair as he was out of action for almost an entire year.
While he made a successful return to the pitch in August 2002, Babbel wasn't the same player he was before GBS as he made just seven more appearances for Liverpool before leaving for Stuttgart in 2004.
Gary McAllister
Despite joining Liverpool in 2000 on a free transfer from Coventry at 35 years of age – 19 years after beginning his professional career – Gary McAllister left a lasting impact on the Liverpool faithful in the two years he spent as a Red.
The former midfielder was a clutch player for Houllier who described the Scotsman as his "most inspirational signing". McAllister played 49 games as Liverpool captured a treble of trophies while scoring a series of iconic goals, including his 44-yard free-kick winner over Everton in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
He also scored a penalty winner against Barcelona in the UEFA Cup semi-final as well as netting one goal and assisting three more in Liverpool's 5-4 win over Alaves in the European final.
McAllister even later returned as a first-team coach under Brendan Rodgers in 2015, but left just months later when the manager was dismissed and replaced by Klopp.
Adrian
While the Spaniard only made 26 appearances in five years at the club with 18 of them coming in his first season, there aren't many players who were responsible for delivering their team a trophy in just their second appearance.
Adrian's second Liverpool game came in the 2019 UEFA Super Cup final against Chelsea which went to extra-time and penalties after the two Premier League sides were tied 2-2 after 120 minutes. The ex-West Ham goalkeeper was Liverpool's saviour for the night after he saved Tammy Abraham's penalty to crown the Reds champions and deliver them their fourth Super Cup title.
His all-round performance and penalty heroics led to Klopp's famous bellowing of "Adrian" akin to how Rocky Balboa would call his wife who shares the same name as the goalkeeper. Adrian made just two appearances in his last three seasons at Liverpool but remained a popular figure among the club's dressing room.