Pundits focused on £450m spend 'favour other clubs' – Slot

Arne Slot won the Premier League title in his first season as Liverpool manager

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has criticised pundits who "favour other clubs" for their comments over the club's summer spending as he prepares to give a debut to Alexander Isak.

The deadline day signing of Sweden striker Isak from Newcastle for a British record fee of £125m took Liverpool's spending to £450m on eight players.

Isak is set to make his first appearance for the Reds in their Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday.

At his pre-match news conference Slot pointed out that Liverpool's unprecedented spending was offset by more than £250m recouped in sales, having spent just £10m the previous summer.

"There is so much focus on our new signings, especially from pundits that favour some other clubs in the country that cannot stop talking about £450m," Slot said.

"I repeat, £450m, £450m! But they forget about [nearly] £300m that we have sold [players] for. So, yes, if we want to strengthen the squad we need to spend that much money."