To most Liverpool fans on the Internet, “It ain’t got meaning until he’s leaning.” is a quote of utmost importance in regards to transfers. It’s a common joke among supporters that a Liverpool target isn’t official until the player is photographed leaning against something in as awkward a position as possible. No one is quite sure why, but when the club photographer takes photos of new players upon signing, he frequently makes them lean against anything and everything. So, with the Summer transfer window now completely out of sight in the rear-view mirror, here are all of Liverpool’s new signings, complete with each lean.

Adam Lallana (£25.0m) – Southampton



2013/14 statistics (league): 38 appearances, 9 goals, 5 assists, 85% passing accuracy

Arguably Brendan Rodgers’ top Summer target, Adam Lallana is as pure an example as any of the type of player the Liverpool manager wants in his team: a versatile midfielder overflowing with seemingly unlimited energy who can score as well as assist. The former Southampton captain began his youth career with Bournemouth before moving to the Saints in 2000, witnessing their fall from the Premier League before signing his first professional contract in 2006. Once he became a first-team regular in 2008, Lallana’s contributions were vital to Southampton’s rise from League One to the Premier League, where he attracted the interest of Rodgers and his scouts. Only just returning from a knee injury picked up in pre-season, Lallana will be available for his Liverpool debut after the international break.

Dejan Lovren (£20.0m) – Southampton



2013/14 statistics (league): 31 appearances, 2 goals, 12 clean sheets

If there’s anything Liverpool needed last season, it was a central defender who wasn’t afraid to command his back four. In Dejan Lovren, Brendan Rodgers has bought exactly that. The third and final purchase from Southampton, Lovren started in the pre-season friendly against Borussia Dortmund looking like he’d been at the club for years, scoring a goal and leading his defence to a clean-sheet. Since that match, the Croatian has played every minute in the league for Liverpool, and if early performances are a sign of things to come, supporters will be hoping he stays at Anfield for much longer than the 12 months he enjoyed at Saint Mary’s.

Lazar Markovic (£20.0m) – Benfica



2013/14 statistics (league): 25 appearances, 5 goals

It’s not often Liverpool supporters can brag about snapping up a hot prospect from under the noses of several top clubs, but with Lazar Markovic they can do just that. In March it was widely reported that Chelsea had agreed a first option to buy deal with Benfica, and while Brendan Rodgers and his transfer committee were interested in the talented Serbian, it would take an extortionate sum of money to prise Markovic away from the grasp of Jose Mourinho. Fast forward to July and Liverpool are announcing a £20 million deal with Benfica, without any mention of Chelsea’s supposed first option clause, but with plenty of mention of the amount of clubs who wished to make Markovic one of their own. Fans at Anfield are yet to see much of the 20-year-old they paid so much for, but when Avram Grant states that he has only ever worked with two players more talented (Ronaldo and Messi, nonetheless), it’s easy to be patient.

Mario Balotelli (£16.0m) – AC Milan



2013/14 statistics (league): 30 appearances, 14 goals, 6 assists

If Xabi Alonso hadn’t suddenly left Real Madrid for Bayern Munich, or Radamel Falcao not been attracted by the Champions League-less Manchester United, Mario Balotelli’s move to Anfield may have been the most surprising transfer of the Summer. As it goes, Liverpool’s acquisition of the Italian warranted nothing more than a brief raise of the eyebrows for most football fans, along with a quiet pump of the fists from Reds supporters who have prayed for a world-class striker to join the ranks at Melwood following Luis Suarez’s departure. Balotelli’s attitude has been questioned countless times since he stepped in to the spotlight under Roberto Mancini at Inter Milan, but there is a feeling throughout the footballing world that this could be the striker’s last opportunity to prove himself as a truly world-class talent. Under the tutelage of Brendan Rodgers, and alongside two of England’s most promising attacking talents in Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling, Balotelli has all the tools he needs to flourish.

Alberto Moreno (Undisclosed: rumoured £12.0m) – Sevilla



2013/14 statistics (league): 29 appearances, 3 goals, 4 Clean sheets

One of the longest transfer sagas of the window, Alberto Moreno’s arrival at Anfield was met with sighs of relief rather than cries of joy when he was signed on August 16th. And, after running half the length of the field to score his first Liverpool goal in only his second appearance, it hasn’t taken long for the young Spaniard to be compared to John-Arne Riise, the powerful Norwegian who is regarded as an undoubted success despite Liverpool’s long-standing problem with acquiring a talented left-back. A solid debut for Moreno against Manchester City followed by a terrific performance at White Hart Lane means supporters are confident that the ex-Sevilla man can be the answer to potentially the weakest area of the Reds’ defence.

Divock Origi (£10.0m; sent back on loan to Lille) – Lille



2013/14 statistics (league): 30 appearances, 5 goals, 1 assist

Relatively unheard of until a stand-out World Cup performance, Divock Origi has been a player on Liverpool’s radar for a very long time. And even Origi himself couldn’t believe quite how long, with Anfield scouts having tracked the Belgium for nearly five years before deciding this Summer was the perfect opportunity to broker a deal with Lille. Although purchased for an eyebrow-raising sum of £10 million, Brendan Rodgers saw it appropriate to send the 19-year-old back to the French side, identifying the need for Origi to be playing regular football at such a tender age. His true arrival at Anfield will come in just under a year’s time, when it is hoped the playing time he requires will be readily available. Until then, Liverpool supporters should be sure to track their loanee’s progress with eager anticipation.

Emre Can (£8.0m) – Bayer Leverkusen



2013/14 statistics (league): 29 appearances, 3 goals, 3 assists

With his transfer being openly endorsed by Liverpool legend Sami Hyypia, Anfield supporters are expecting big things from Emre Can in the future. Young enough to not expect a starting place but clearly talented enough to step in to the spotlight when his name is called, Can is a powerful and versatile midfielder capable of going on rampaging runs not too dissimilar to those of Yaya Toure. The German showcased some impressive ability during pre-season and while there may be concerns about his attitude following a clumsy and embarrassing dive against Manchester City, Can seems like the perfect candidate to provide cover for the aging Steven Gerrard and out-of-form Lucas.

Rickie Lambert (£4.0m) – Southampton



2013/14 statistics (league): 37 appearances, 13 goals, 11 assists

The feel-good transfer of the Summer, Rickie Lambert’s move to Liverpool was met with confusion by many supporters who questioned whether his return to Anfield after 17 years was purely sentimental. However, Brendan Rodgers insisted his first signing of the window was anything but, and with Daniel Sturridge (and now Mario Balotelli) sitting ahead of Lambert as striking options, the 32-year-old is potentially one of the most talented Plan Bs in the league.

Javi Manquillo (Loan) – Atletico Madrid



2013/14 statistics (league): 3 appearances, 1 clean sheet

A loan arrangement no one really understands, the acquisition of Javier Manquillo was one which flew relatively under the radar. A 19-year-old with only three league appearances under his belt at Atletico Madrid in 2013-14, Manquillo doesn’t boast a huge amount of experience, but his undoubted potential has been very clearly on show in the two games he has played under Brendan Rodgers in the league this season. With Alberto Moreno and Dejan Lovren also making impressive starts to their Liverpool careers, this season could herald the beginnings of a new, long-term back four.