The summer that split opinion before a ball was kicked

Six signings. Eight departures. A transfer window that had Liverpool supporters arguing amongst themselves before the season even got underway. Some felt key areas, midfield, right wing, right-back, were left criminally unaddressed. Others pointed out that four of the six recruits could walk straight into the starting XI and make a case for themselves. The truth, as ever, sits somewhere in between.

With the dust now settling on a frantic and fiercely debated window, it is time to take stock of exactly what Andoni Iraola has to work with. From the signing that has already set Anfield alight to the one supporters are still waiting to clap eyes on, here is how the new arrivals rank after the opening weeks of the campaign.

The ones who are still finding their footing

At the bottom of any honest ranking sits Lucca Brughmans, the Belgian goalkeeper who attracted interest from across European football before putting pen to paper on a six-year deal. The caveat, of course, is that he will not join until next season, which makes generating genuine excitement about the signing a tall order, particularly when supporters feel other pressing needs were left unmet. It is one for the future, and there is nothing wrong with that, but it barely registers as a summer arrival in any meaningful sense right now.

Not far above him is Ifeanyi Ndukwe, the 18-year-old centre-back who turned heads during Liverpool's pre-season tour of the United States. The Austrian youngster showed enough to suggest he could eventually push for a place in Iraola's defence, but work permit complications have sent him on a season-long loan to Spanish side Levante. Again, the potential is clearly there, but potential on loan in Spain does not move the needle for a club with immediate ambitions.

A captain with a point to prove and a winger already making noise

Ronald Araujo has had precious little time on the pitch so far, with cameos against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest hardly enough to form a firm verdict. What he has shown, though, is the kind of composed assurance you might expect from a man who captained Barcelona. Crucially, his ability to operate at right-back gives Iraola genuine flexibility in a position that has caused Liverpool no shortage of headaches, and that versatility could prove invaluable before the season is out.

Then there is Victor Munoz, who has wasted absolutely no time making himself at home. The 23-year-old Spanish winger won the late penalty at Newcastle that salvaged a 2-2 draw on the opening weekend, then followed it up by smashing in the equaliser against Forest to earn Liverpool another point at Anfield. Direct, aggressive, utterly fearless, Munoz looks like a player with a big future at this club, and he has announced himself in the most emphatic way possible.

The centre-back who looks like a steal and the £123m man we cannot wait to see

Jeremy Jacquet has been the quiet revelation of the summer. The 21-year-old has slotted in alongside Virgil van Dijk from the off and, on the evidence of the first two matches, looks every inch a future long-term partner for the Dutchman, perhaps even a successor. Assured in possession, composed under pressure and with a natural reading of the game that belies his age, he has already become a firm favourite. For a player who arrived with relatively little fanfare, that is some achievement.

Bradley Barcola sits at the top of this list despite not yet having played a single minute for the club. At £123m, Liverpool's second most expensive signing of all time carries enormous expectation, and the lengthy negotiations with PSG only added to the sense of occasion when the deal was finally done. Supporters were yet to see him in action against Ipswich Town as this was written, but the buzz around Anfield since his unveiling has been palpable. Now it is time for the football to do the talking, and if the early signs from his new teammates are anything to go by, this Liverpool side looks ready to make some noise.