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It's been a summer like no other at Anfield. Liverpool waved goodbye to one of the greatest talents ever to pull on the shirt and embarked on the biggest spending spree in the club’s history.

Yet despite that eye-catching figure of £100milllion being shelled out on eight new signings, context is vital. The Reds have significantly strengthened their squad with a net spend of just £20million. Considering the huge influx of TV money and the financial rewards of returning to the Champions League, Liverpool certainly haven’t over-stretched themselves.

It’s been a calm and measured approach to life without Luis Suarez and the cash is there for Brendan Rodgers to secure the striker he requires if the right deal can be done between now and September 1.

Liverpool’s transfer business has been impressive and the man responsible for all those negotiations has kept a very low profile. Ian Ayre has come in for plenty of stick from Liverpool fans in recent years but even his harshest critics would have to admit he’s played a blinder this summer.

The image of Ayre among a section of the club’s supporters has always been at odds with how he’s viewed by owners Fenway Sports Group.

Fans blamed him in previous windows when Liverpool tried and failed to land the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Diego Costa, Willian, Mohamed Salah and Yevhen Konoplyanka. Some suggested he was out of his depth.

Yet he wasn’t operating with a blank cheque book like at Chelsea or Manchester City. He was working on orders from FSG, who demanded value and that the club lived within its means.

Ayre, who was appointed as commercial director by Tom Hicks and George Gillett in 2007, was someone else’s man when John W Henry and Tom Werner bought Liverpool in October 2010. Yet rather than show him the door, two very shrewd and successful businessmen made him managing director the following year. Another promotion followed two months ago with his appointment as chief executive. His stock in Boston has never been higher.

Liverpool didn’t even announce his recent change of job title as Ayre, who has rarely given interviews over the past 12 months, was keen for it to go under the radar. His work since then has done the talking for him.

Once Barcelona made their move for Suarez, Ayre ensured it was dealt with quickly and decisively, knowing a drawn-out saga could have severely hampered Liverpool’s preparations for the new season.

The Catalans were told that they could forget about trying to get him on the cheap and that Suarez would only move if the release clause was met. Crucially, Ayre had protected the club’s investment last December when he convinced Suarez to pen a new contract.

The deals to bring players to Anfield this summer haven’t been straightforward but Liverpool have got their men. The pursuit of Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Alberto Moreno took months as their clubs demanded higher fees. Irate fans demanded that Ayre just splashed the extra millions but instead he stood his ground. Both Southampton and Sevilla eventually back-tracked and accepted offers they had initially spurned.

Landing Lazar Markovic from Benfica was complex as he was part-owned by an investment fund, while the Reds had to move fast to take advantage of a clause in Emre Can’s contract which enabled a foreign club to get him for £10million before Bayern Munich could exercise their buyback option.

Ayre, who enjoys a close relationship with Rodgers, is the crucial link between the manager, the recruitment team and the American owners. The lifelong Kopite has played a vital role in ensuring Liverpool are ready for the big kick-off.

Sturridge has to dig deep as Anfield’s main man

There is plenty of responsibility resting on Daniel Sturridge’s shoulders going into the new season.

The England striker, who will make his 50th appearance for Liverpool in tomorrow’s season opener against Southampton at Anfield, will be the focal point of the Reds’ attack.

His record suggests he can handle the increased expectation levels. Only George Allan with 41 goals in the late 19th century has been more prolific in his first half century of games for the club.

Sturridge has netted 35 times following his £12million move from Chelsea and considering the number of occasions he’s been asked to operate from a wider role that’s a remarkable tally. Yet for Sturridge to truly take on the mantle from Luis Suarez this season Liverpool need him to push himself to the limit over the next nine months.

There were times last season when Sturridge missed training and matches with minor knocks, while Suarez always insisted on being patched up and sent back out for duty.

With the added demands of Champions League football this term, feeling 100% every single time you step out on to the pitch simply isn’t realistic.

● If Steven Gerrard scores from the spot tomorrow he will become the highest scorer of penalties in Liverpool’s history. The Reds skipper is currently level with Jan Molby on 42.

Teixeira needs to impress with Sami

Liverpool starlet Joao Carlos Teixeira must grab his chance to impress at Brighton after linking up with Kop legend Sami Hyypia.

It’s a great move for the Portuguese attacking midfielder, who needs to play regular first-team football after the relative comfort of life in the Reds’ under-21s.

Teixeira, who made his Reds debut at Fulham in February, is a genuine talent. But at the age of 21 the clock is ticking if he’s going to make it at Anfield. The hope is that a spell in the Championship will be the making of him.

Kelly sees lighter side of Pulis exit

Martin Kelly saw the funny side of a dramatic start to life at Crystal Palace. Within hours of the 24-year-old completing his £1.5million move from Liverpool, Tony Pulis parted company with the Eagles after falling out with co-chairman Steve Parish over transfer policy.

Caretaker manager Keith Millen said: “I was in the car park when Martin pulled up – he got out and said, ’I didn’t think I trained that badly yesterday’. I had a chat with him in the office because it was important he understood it was a club decision to bring him here.”