Liverpool Transfer Deadline Day Preview

It's transfer deadline day! Gather your wits about you, procure a fine beverage, and settle in for a long and arduous day where the potential for everything and absolutely nothing happening seem to coexist in the same space-time continuum. As the sun rises on Merseyside, let's review where Liverpool currently find themselves on this last day of the transfer window.

Who's In

Liverpool started the transfer window brightly, quickly bringing in Kolo Toure (Manchester City), Luis Alberto (Sevilla), Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo), and Simon Mignolet (Sunderland) before or soon after the window opened. Much of July and August felt like a lengthy dry spell, although the lack of signings were not for lack of trying to bring in new, high-profile players. Aly Cissokho, the poor sod, was brought in on loan from Valencia to provide competition at left back only to get injured within ten minutes of his debut on Tuesday against Notts County.

While the club have not made any official announcements, the presence at Anfield yesterday of Mamadou Sakho (Paris Saint-Germain), Tiago Ilori (Sporting Clube de Portugal), and Victor Moses (Chelsea) represents a further three signings in positions of need. Liverpool suddenly feel flushed with depth at centre back — a feeling we did not have a few short days ago — and Moses should provide a season-long reprieve on the wing.

Also, Lucas is back. That's like a new signing in and of itself.

Who's Out

A temporary goodbye was given to Suso (Almeria), Pepe Reina (Napoli), and Oussama Assaidi (Stoke City) as they headed out on loan to other clubs, while a season-long loan for Fabio Borini (Sunderland) is expected to be completed shortly. The youngsters have both had trouble breaking into the first team with any regularity, and it still remains to be seen whether or not Reina will ever wear red again at the end of his season-long sojourn to Italy.

Liverpool said goodbye on a permanent basis to a number of fringe first team or reserve players in Peter Gulacsi (Red Bull Salzburg), Danny Wilson (Hearts of Midlothian), Jay Spearing (Bolton Wanderers). A future in red never quite seemed to be on the cards for any of these gents, and their departures were largely met with support.

Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City) and Andy Carroll (West Ham United) finalized transfers south. The former had been built up by Brendan Rodgers as a major cog in the manager's system, but an inability to find consistency and a general falling out of favour meant Shelvey was best off finding a new home elsewhere. Likewise for Andy Carroll, whose managers never really found a good way to use the lad, and who is likely to be set up for much more success with the Hammers.

You may have also heard that Stewart Downing followed Andy Carroll down to London. This was met with solemn and stoic observance by many fans.

Who's In Limbo

Luis Suarez is the biggest name on this list, and his will-he-or-won't-he transfer has cast a tedious spectre over the entire summer. If I were a betting woman, my money would be on him still being on Merseyside on September 3, but transfer deadline day has a way of making fools of us all, especially those of us who write for football blogs.

Martin Skrtel fell deeply out of favour last season, and quickly saw himself fall behind depth-signing Kolo Toure at centre back, which was only complicated by an injury/"injury" that saw him sidelined anyway. Linked to Napoli periodically all summer, a stellar performance against Manchester United will either help turn Brendan Rodger's head in his direction or will, the very least, be a shop window show worthy of a decent transfer fee.

Andre Wisdom isn't leaving the club for good, but rumours of a loan have swirled all summer. With the arrival of both Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori, Wisdom's perferred position is suddenly overrun with players ahead of him in team sheet selection. Whether Wisdom is loaned may be contingent upon Martin Skrtel's future and the congestion of players vying to start each week alongside Daniel Agger.

And last, but not least, is Sebastian Coates. The Uruguyan isn't going anywhere on account of the ACL injury he picked up, but his rather tragic development at Anfield still warrants inclusion on the In Limbo list. He'll need a more serious look in ten months' time, but for now we should probably take solace that one half of the best Beatles cover band ever will still be making his home on Merseyside.

Where Reinforcements are Needed

Transfer target wish lists vary by person, but there was general consensus that money should be spent at centre back, left back, up front (either on an out-and-out striker and/or wingers), and on a back up for Lucas. Centre back now seems solidly covered, and while Cissokho himself is now injured, when he returns in six weeks there will be adequate back up at left back as well.

With Fabio Borini leaving on loan and Luis Suarez's situation being what it was, a striker may now be at the top of the list for some. For others, the loan of Victor Moses to fulfill a need on the wing isn't yet satisfactory and there's some hope that there is still another player to be brought in at this position.

And, finally, many are still waiting for the Big Marquee Signing™. Thrice burned already this summer by big names, Liverpool's existing work in the transfer window lacked a bit of star power for those hoping to secure the services of an established star, rather than working on developing a star in the making.

We'll be here throughout the day as we provide coverage of all comings and goings from Liverpool, so please feel free to stick around and join in the inevitably lively discussion. Until then, feel free to discuss in the comments the business Liverpool has already done as well as the business you hope they'll do, and if you haven't already, join the community on the Liverpool Offside.