Jamie Carragher believes a repeat of Liverpool's third-place finish in their final season under Jurgen Klopp will represent a success in Arne Slot's first campaign at the helm.
Liverpool fell off at the tail end of 2023-24 to finish third behind Manchester City and Arsenal, before former Feyenoord boss Slot took the reigns from Klopp.
The Dutchman's first league game at the helm ended in a 2-0 win over newly promoted Ipswich Town on Saturday, with the Reds producing an impressive second-half display.
Liverpool created the highest expected goals figure (2.65 xG) of any team on matchday one of the Premier League season, registering 15 shots and 43 touches in the Ipswich area after half-time as goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah handed them victory.
Despite a positive start to Slot's reign, Carragher believes Liverpool's supporters will be forgiving if he fails to deliver silverware in his first season.
Speaking in his role of Sky Sports pundit, Carragher said: "I don't think Liverpool supporters are expecting the world in the first season.
"They realise the situation he is coming into, I think Liverpool replicating what they did last season would be enough.
"I was really impressed with a couple of things from the weekend. I was impressed with how decisive he was at half-time, he identified a problem and dealt with it.
"When I was watching Liverpool play out from the back, we've all played in those games on a dry pitch, the opposition are onto you.
"I liked what he said, that you don't need to keep playing short passes in those situations, you can go a bit longer.
"He's the total opposite of Klopp, the crowd were chanting his name at the end and he shied away from it."
Southampton complete £12.8m move for Sporting's Fernandes
Southampton have completed a £12.8million move to bring Sporting CP midfielder Mateus Fernandes to the Premier League.
Fernandes, who has been capped seven times by Portugal at under-21 level, spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Estoril, making 28 Primeira Liga appearances and scoring once.
The 20-year-old, who came through Sporting's youth system, has penned a five-year deal with Southampton, who began their Premier League campaign with a 1-0 defeat to 10-man Newcastle United.
Fernandes is the 14th arrival at St Mary's since their promotion back to the top flight, with Flynn Downes, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Cameron Archer among their more expensive acquisitions.
"I'm very happy to be here, it's a dream come true to come to England and play in the Premier League," Fernandes told the club's website.
"It's the best league in the world, in my opinion. It has the best coaches, the best players, the best teams. It's good for me, for my growth and I'm happy."
Fernandes ranked second among all Estoril players for chances created in the Portuguese top flight last season, with 39, also leading their charts for successful passes in the opposition half (534).
Mount backed to improve by former Man Utd striker Berbatov
Mason Mount has been backed to improve on a disappointing first season at Manchester United by Dimitar Berbatov, who feels the midfielder needs to take more risks in his play.
Mount joined the Red Devils from Chelsea in a £60million move last year but failed to make an impact in his first campaign at Old Trafford, which was marred by injuries and inconsistency.
He only made 14 Premier League appearances in 2023-24, being limited to five starts and just 513 minutes as United finished a disappointing eighth in the Premier League.
Mount only managed one goal involvement in those matches – a goal in a 1-1 draw at Brentford in March – and created just six chances.
Berbatov, who won two Premier League titles, the EFL Cup and the Club World Cup with United between 2008 and 2012, expects more of the midfielder this campaign.
"The first season was disappointing for him and something to forget. But he can learn from that and what he can learn is to get better," he said in an interview with Futbin.
"If you give him the opportunity he has to go out and give the best he can. He didn't manage to do that last season, unfortunately.
"But the talent and the quality are there. Everybody saw what he did at Chelsea, but he didn't produce it at United."
Berbatov does feel Mount needs to show greater self-confidence if he is to nail down a spot in Erik ten Hag's team, adding: "My only wish for him is to get through the thought that he is new and that he doesn't want to take responsibility.
"It is his second season now and he needs to have a good season. This is the moment to make or break, so he has to go out there and be brave.
"Take some chances and risks. He has the quality, so don't be afraid, Mason."
Goretzka will be 'full member of squad' if he stays, says Bayern sporting director
Bayern Munich's sporting director Max Eberl says that Leon Goretzka will not be exiled if he stays at the club after the transfer window closes.
Under Thomas Tuchel last season, Goretzka started in 25 of his 30 Bundesliga appearances, winning 23 of his 41 tackles, only ranking sixth highest in the Bayern squad.
The midfielder looks to have slipped down the pecking order since Vincent Kompany's arrival, playing a bit-part role during pre-season.
Goretzka, who has made 221 appearances since joining from Schalke in 2018, was left out of the squad for their 4-0 win over Ulm in the first round of the DFB-Pokal last Friday.
However, he did start Tuesday's 4-0 friendly win over Grasshopper Club Zurich, playing just over an hour as he filled a gap in defence after it was confirmed Josip Stanisic will miss the start of the season after undergoing knee surgery.
Goretzka's future is no clearer heading into the start of the season, with only tentative links to Liverpool or Barcelona being reported.
The German is reportedly keen to fight for his place in Kompany's squad, and Eberl says that will be a possibility if he is still at the club at the end of the transfer window.
"At Bayern Munich, there's no second training group," he told Sky Sports Germany. "Leon is a great player and played well today. If he stays, he will be a full member of our squad."
While speaking to Abendzeitung, he said: "We never spoke badly about Leon. He has done great things for FC Bayern.
"Competitive situations are quite normal in football. Leon is a full member of the team. We only hinted that it could be difficult."
Bayern's final pre-season game ended in another dominant win, with Michael Olise, Harry Kane, Mathys Tel and Thomas Muller netting the goals.
They will begin their season against Wolfsburg on Sunday, and Eberl noted the importance of the extra preparation before they launch a title challenge.
"It was important that we had another test to get fit, to internalize the processes and new ideas," Eberl told Bayern's media channels.
"It's a positive result, we didn't concede a goal. We are satisfied
"We have a new coaching team that brings new energy into the dressing room. We showed decent performances in the preparation, and now we want to win every game."
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