Liverpool caught all the headlines in the summer after spending almost £450m on additions to their Premier League winning squad. Yet almost halfway through the season, it’s Everton who may have enjoyed the more productive window so far.
David Moyes’ side added depth to their attack as well as bolstering their midfield, and so far things are looking good. The same can’t be said for their neighbours. Liverpool’s marquee arrivals have shown moments of quality, but none have delivered consistently.
With the season approaching its halfway point and the January window on the horizon, here’s Mersey Sport Live’s verdict on how the ten biggest Merseyside signings stack up.
10) Alexander Isak – Liverpool
Before the season started few would have predicted Isak at the bottom of a list like this, but the £130m signing has struggled to make any real impact in his opening 14 appearances.
A disrupted pre-season always pointed towards a slow introduction, but so far it’s been slower than anyone anticipated, one goal and one assist in his first 480 Premier League minutes tells its own story.
Isak’s quality is unquestioned, and it’s far too early to call him a miss, but the price tag will continue to loom until he finds the back of the net with greater regularity.
9) Tyler Dibling – Everton
Ranking the 19-year-old this low may seem harsh, but at £40m the expectation naturally rises. After 15 matches, Dibling has logged just 76 Premier League minutes, not through lack of quality, but because he sits behind Iliman Ndiaye, one of Everton’s standout performers.
Ndiaye’s departure for AFCON will open the door for him in the coming weeks. The raw talent is clear, now he just needs the platform to justify the fee.
Dibling is one for the future, this opportunity for more minutes could soon see him rise up the rankings.
8) Thierno Barry – Everton
When Everton secured Barry for just under £30m, the hope was that the Frenchman would offer a more reliable goal threat than Beto. Instead, the early signs look similar, just one goal in 15 Premier League appearances and a struggle to perform consistently.
His numbers underline the issue. Barry sits in the 10th percentile for goals per 90 (0.13) and the 25th percentile for shots per 90 (2.08), though his aerial dominance, ranking in the 98th percentile for aerials won (6.37 per 90) has been a clear asset.
His first goal against Nottingham Forest may well be the turning point. Everton will be hoping he can rediscover the form that saw him reach 11 goals and four assists at Villarreal.
7) Jeremie Frimpong – Liverpool
It’s been a frustrating start for Frimpong. Injuries have restricted the Dutchman to limited minutes. His last outing, against Frankfurt, ended with him forced off after 19 minutes. Brought in to help replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, yet it so far it seems as though Conor Bradley is above him in the pecking order.
Frimpong offers a different profile: Explosive, agile, and aggressive in transition. But with so little game time, it remains difficult to see exactly how Arne Slot intends to integrate him. Energetic, yes but real impact is still missing.
6) Milos Kerkez – Liverpool
Kerkez has fought hard for minutes, alternating with veteran Andrew Robertson, but it’s been a mixed start for the Hungarian. The effort he puts in is undeniable but the output has been inconsistent.
His chemistry with Cody Gakpo down the left seems to be lacking, leaving Liverpool’s flank less effective than expected.
The underlying numbers offer encouragement, 78th percentile for progressive passes (4.59 per 90) and 73rd percentile for clearances (4.21) but he’s yet to consistently show the form he displayed at Bournemouth.
With Robertson as a mentor, Kerkez remains in a good position, even if performances so far have left you wanting more.
5) Giorgi Mamardashvili – Liverpool
“Fine” is the word for Mamardashvili so far. Thrown into the side during Alisson’s injury spell, there were no grumbles about the Georgian, but unspectacular performances came behind a defence struggling for cohesion.
A 66.7% save percentage places him in the 41st percentile among Premier League keepers, not alarming, but not yet close to Alisson’s elite standards. Still, he avoided major errors and produced a penalty save against Manchester City. A slow burner sure, but there’s a foundation to build on.
4) Florian Wirtz – Liverpool
Wirtz has been one of the most talked-about arrivals of the season. Criticised for his lack of goals and assists yet the underlying performances carry real promise.
The former Bundesliga player of the season ranks in the 94th percentile for shot-creating actions (4.5 per 90) and matches that in progressive passes (6.36 per 90).
There is no doubt the 22-year-old so far hasn’t lived up to his £116m price tag, but if placed in a Liverpool side that was ready and firing, Wirtz numbers could easily be higher.
He’s so far shown flashes of brilliance, intelligent movement, and moments where he looks to have a bright future with the Reds. There’s more to come and Liverpool will expect it sooner rather than later.
3) Hugo Ekitike – Liverpool
Earlier in the season, Ekitike might have topped this list. Even with Liverpool’s recent dip, he remains their leading scorer with seven goals in 21 games, a respectable return considering minutes have been shared with Isak.
Beyond the numbers, he has offered sharp movement and neat link-up play along with his goal threat. If Liverpool stabilise, Ekitike’s output could easily spike again. He’s been their most effective new signing to date.
2) Jack Grealish – Everton
A change of scenery has done wonders for Grealish. On loan from Manchester City, he has thrived with greater responsibility, becoming a key creative force in Moyes’ setup.
Grealish sits third in the Premier League for chances created (29), providing threat on both wings alongside Ndiaye. The goals and assists may have tailed off since the opening weeks, but his influence on Everton’s attacking structure has been undeniable.
1) Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – Everton
Top spot goes to Dewsbury-Hall, a man who has looked reborn since swapping Chelsea’s fringes for a starring role at the Hill Dickinson. Struggling for minutes in London despite strong Conference League performances, he has quickly become a central figure in Everton’s midfield.
The 27-year-old has recaptured the form he displayed at Leicester in 2023/24, energetic, creative, and constantly involved. He has contributed on both sides of the ball, offering goals, build-up quality and relentless work rate. With the season still young, Dewsbury-Hall is already shaping up as one of the bargains of the summer.
