41 days. That was the duration between Liverpool pushing their premier target Christian Benteke through the Melwood doors and the close of the transfer window. The Reds dusted off their major incomings by July 22, while last summer four players had been recruited after that date, including the desperate dash for Mario Balotelli on August 25.
The approach seemed chaotic and was mirrored on the pitch as the club continuously stuttered in 2014-15. That was not to be repeated as a more cohesive plan was put in place. Arrivals were concluded early, largely with minimum fuss and little resistance, with haggling and hunting left to other clubs.
The issues to tackle were plentiful: sharpening a strike force that was more Jackass than Jaws, adding experience and steel, solving the problematic right-back slot, injecting freshness, and ejecting the excess.
Given the famine of formidable and available forwards, Liverpool did well to secure Benteke for £32.5 million, especially considering Manchester United have spent around £4m more for the largely unknown Anthony Martial. The Belgian is not a natural fit to Rodgers's approach, but offers the club unpredictability and a menacing focal point. There have been encouraging signs while he adapts to his teammates and vice versa.
Danny Ings, who was wanted by Tottenham, also arrived to boost options upfront. They were joined by Divock Origi, who was signed from Lille last summer but had to complete a season there on loan as part of the deal. The trio represent an improvement on the misfiring Fabio Borini, Rickie Lambert and Balotelli, all of whom are no longer at the club.
Also introduced to the attacking line-up was Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian has a reputation for creating chances, but also being a 'thiever of balls'. His movement, desire to press and boldness on the ball are vital facets of Liverpool's play, and once he settles, he's expected to be his team's spark. Nigerian striking starlet Taiwo Awoniyi was also recruited, but immediately loaned out to FSV Frankfurt.
The arrival of James Milner on a free transfer is one of the signings of the summer. The midfielder's experience, work ethic, versatility and winning mentality are all most welcome at Melwood. Nathaniel Clyne was another astute buy, not least because Liverpool have often been undone at right-back.
Not many paid attention when Joe Gomez was brought in from Charlton for £3.5m, but he has been impressive. Adam Bogdan is a better deputy to Simon Mignolet than Brad Jones, but there is an argument to be made that the club should be providing competition for their stopper, not a back-up.
For all the incomings, the departure of Raheem Sterling still packs a Mike Tyson-type punch. Liverpool pocketed a sizeable £34.2m from the sale to Manchester City, but the 20-year-old is one of the foremost young talents in world football, and he's now starring for a rival.
His was not the only high-profile exit. Steven Gerrard left for LA Galaxy, and while the former skipper lacked the legs to set the tempo in games, he packed with him his world-class aura and archive of achievements
Liverpool were loathe to see both of them leave for different reasons, but the remaining outgoings - Lazar Markovic aside - were necessary. Apart from Sterling and Gerrard, six other permanent moves away were secured: Borini, Lambert, Jones, Glen Johnson, Sebastian Coates and Iago Aspas as well as 17 loan deals. That Jose Enrique is still on Merseyside is shambolic.
It's bewildering that Markovic, 21, was sent to Fenerbahce for the season given Liverpool's commitments as well as their desire to cultivate young talent. The Serbian is one of four players to have arrived last summer, and waved goodbye in this one along with Lambert, Balotelli and Javier Manquillo, whose two-year temporary spell was cut short.
Liverpool will hope that in 2016, this year's business will not be discussed with the distaste of 2014's.
The club have banked £51.6m from sales excluding add-ons, and a further £3m in loan fees. Their outlay was £75.9m, leaving a net spend of around £21m. Could they have done more? The answer to that question is usually always 'yes'. Rodgers still looks short at centre-back as well as in the middle of the park, especially defensively. But, you can also do too much in a window.
Integrating a raft of new players requires time and patience; two commodities which are not often afforded in modern football. Liverpool have not just freshened up on the field, the coaching staff have had a makeover too. Sean O'Driscoll, Pepijn Lijnders and Gary McAllister replaced Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh as the club switched to a more technical direction.
Rodgers will hope that come May, he won't be talking about fixing problems in the summer again while fearing the tap on the shoulder telling him to pack his things.
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