As Premier League clubs frantically tried to tie up deals for players on Friday, Liverpool were caught on their heels as rival clubs stole the march on their summer transfer targets.

Liverpool’s unwillingness to meet Fulham’s valuation for Clint Dempsey resulted in the forward ending up with a move to Tottenham.

Another of the Reds’ reported targets, Gaston Ramirez, was also involved in the deadline day furore as he made a switch to Southampton.

Brendan Rodgers’ is now faced with the prospect of keeping Luis Suarez in bubble wrap and away from sharp objects until January as the Liverpool boss faces the first half of the campaign with reduced numbers in attack.