While the Luis Suarez transfer saga might have taken up most of the column space during the summer, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will be hoping his players do the talking on the field as the Reds begin their English Premier League campaign against Stoke.
Rodgers has had to field questions about the future of Suarez all summer, but finally put his foot down on the issue saying he will only speak about the players available for the first match of the season - Suarez is suspended for the first six games.
Liverpool have strengthened their squad by bringing in Kolo Toure, Luis Alberto, Iago Aspas and Simon Mignolet and Rodgers is confident this side is capable of competing for a top four place.
"In every way the group is stronger and we still hope to add one or two more before the window closes," Rodgers told reporters.
"There are a number of players we've been linked with but nothing imminent.
"We've got players to come back, we'll add players before the window closes, so the momentum over preseason has been good.
"Everyone has adapted now to our way of working, and there's a lot more stability around the club.
"I believe we'll be ready to put up a good challenge or, as I said earlier in preseason, be in the conversation this year.
"Especially at home, last year we drew too many games that we wanted to win and should have won. Hopefully that introduction of more players into the group will give us a chance.
"You can never be overconfident, there's always a worry sometimes if the pre-season is too good; you win all your games and make no mistakes.
"The most important phase is the competition phase. What we've done is been able to build some really good foundations for us and continue on from where we left off last season.
"That momentum has been maintained. I sense a real positivity around the group, a really good feeling around, nothing will detract from that."
Liverpool, as much as Rodgers might want to believe, will struggle to push the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham for a top four place if they sell Suarez; hence the stance of not letting their premier asset go.
However, Rodgers will also be aware of the pitfalls of having an unhappy player in the squad, and if Suarez continues in the same vein even after the transfer window closes, then the manager will find himself in a spot of bother.
However, with Suarez being suspended for the first six games, Rodgers can concentrate on the matter at hand and Stoke will be no pushovers.
New manager Mark Hughes has promised a more forward-thinking side this season after taking over from the defensive-minded Tony Pulis.
A couple of astute signings have been made by the Potters and Hughes will be desperate to put the Queens Park Rangers debacle behind him and prove himself capable of succeeding in the Premier League with Stoke.
Rodgers confirmed defenders Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel should be available for the Stoke game after overcoming their injuries suffered during preseason.
Expected lineups: Liverpool: Mignolet; Johnson, Toure, Ager, Enrique; Gerrard, Lucas; Sterling, Coutinho, Henderson; Sturridge.
Stoke: Begovic; Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters; Adam, Whelan, N'Zonzi; Jerome, Crouch, Walters.
Prediction: 1-0 to Liverpool
