Liverpool have diligently gone about their transfer business this summer with decidedly mixed results.
After weeks of protracted negotiations, the Reds finally secured Mohamed Salah from Roma last month in a deal worth around £35 million.
His pace and skill alongside the likes of Sadio Mane and Coutinho in attack will frighten Premier League defences, but Liverpool averaged over two goals a game last season to suggest that scoring goals is not their issue.
Their fans have clamoured for signings elsewhere and while Andrew Robertson has arrived to fill the left-back void that James Milner valiantly manned last season, boss Jurgen Klopp has a couple of other targets.
The red half of Merseyside were forced to halt their pursuit of Southampton centre-back Virgil Van Dijk earlier this summer after the Saints submitted a complaint to the Premier League for Liverpool's 'tapping up'.
RB Leipzig have stubbornly rejected Liverpool's huge money offers for Naby Keita thus far meaning two main targets remain out of reach currently.
Everton, however, have had no such issues.
The Toffees have brought in Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, Wayne Rooney, Davy Klaasen, Henry Onyekuru, Cuco Martina and Sandro Ramirez thus far for just under £70 million, but have recouped nearly £90 million on the sales of Romelu Lukaku and Gerard Deulofeu.
According to the Liverpool Echo, Klopp was dismissive of their business when asked about the players Everton had brought in.
“I don’t know why they do the things they do, that’s why I’m completely fine.
“Yes, I heard, of course a few things that they have done.
“Strikers, good. Wayne Rooney, you don’t have to talk about. The centre-half came. Good. So a lot of really good business. Klaassen. So it’s all good.
“But, at the end of the day, just like us, they can only line up 11 players. Then we have to see what will happen. But all the teams have tried to get stronger.
“With Everton, usually derbies are really close games,” he added. “I don’t think we have gone into any of the last few derbies thinking: ‘It’s only Everton.’
“No. There is a lot of respect and if they’ve done good business, well done. But when we face them we still want to win.”
While some of his comments could be construed as patronising, the meticulous German could equally be amusingly genuine. Either way, he is sure to be clued up by the time the sides meet next season.