Premier League clubs get transfer wake-up call as top-four hopefuls exposed

The Premier League's opening weekend provided some telling signs as each club's summer business - the ins and the outs - were magnified.

Arsenal remain the club to catch but several of their rivals were dealt reality checks. Manchester United and Aston Villa were top four finishers last season but both opened their campaigns with a defeat.

Michael Carrick's side were stunned at newly promoted Hull despite their midfield recruits being present. Unai Emery has seen his Europa League winners gutted amid talk of a need for transition, but Villa were ripped apart at Brighton with more exits on the cards.

Liverpool's midfield deficiencies were exposed at Newcastle, who themselves showed plenty of promise after summer that saw their top players leave, casting doubt over the project at St James' Park.

Chelsea and Fulham will round out the weekend on Monday night, they're yet to show their hand, but whilst there's no need to panic after one game the weekend's action certainly showed that some teams may have more work to do than they realised.

Mirror Football's writers takes a look at which club will need to have a massive week as the summer transfer window draws to a close.

Nathan Ridley - Aston Villa

It may seem obvious but it's impossible to ignore the scale of Villa's task in the final week of the window. Not only have they lost Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne, there's a real possibility that Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez could follow them out the exit door.

Although Sunday's drubbing at the hands of Brighton was probably a freak result, the warning signs were there. The biggest reason they need to make signings and do their best to retain both Watkins and Martinez is to keep Unai Emery happy.

Leaving the Spaniard with a threadbare squad on their return to the Champions League could cause him to lose faith in Villa's ambitions at a time when his stock is at an all-time high. There aren't many clubs in world football who'd turn Emery down, and he remains Villa's greatest asset.

John Cross - Liverpool

With just over a week to go of the transfer window, Liverpool are most in need of reinforcements. This is a crossroads moment for Andoni Iraola because they so obviously need new signings to be a club challenging for the title this season.

Without major new recruits, Liverpool would be in serious danger of falling away with the season becoming all about a scrap for a Champions League place.

Liverpool boss Iraola was a really exciting appointment because he plays with intensity, pace and speed. It feels obvious that Liverpool need more in central midfield and the wide areas.

There is no surprise that they want Bradley Barcola and Yankuba Minteh because they are fast, quick and dangerous wingers who would fit into the Iraola style.

If they get one or both of those players then maybe Liverpool can step up into being genuine challengers but they do also lack something in midfield. Iraola is all about pressing, intensity and, at Newcastle, Liverpool lacked some of that energy to allow Florian Wirtz to really excel.

Sky pundit Gary Neville was spot on: Liverpool do need more from Wirtz and Alexander Isak this season. No-one can doubt Liverpool’s ambition or backing in the market.

Other clubs could do with the odd player. But not like Liverpool. For Liverpool, this is all about defining their season and immediate future. But they really need to invest again to stop the club flatlining this season. They are better than that.

James Whaling - Crystal Palace

Of all the results on the opening weekend, I think Crystal Palace's 2-0 defeat by Everton probably went under the radar.

I fear for Palace. Their manager is untested in the Premier League, they have sold Maxime Lacroix to Chelsea and could yet lose Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta. The swap deal involving Dwight McNeil and Brennan Johnson is headscratching to say the least.

Everton fans will tell you they themselves need to do business before the window slams shut, so for them to swat aside Palace so easily should set alarm bells ringing. The Eagles have enjoyed probably the best couple of years in their history winning the FA Cup and UEFA Conference League. But with Europa League football to contend with as well as the grind of the top flight, their squad needs desperate reinforcements if they are to avoid a relegation scrap.

Sam Meade - Aston Villa

All this talk of a rebuild. It is only a rebuild if you bring in the type of quality you've let go, and the Europa League winners have simply not done that.

Not only have they lost bucket loads of quality, but they've lost the continuity they'd enjoyed for so many years. Starting with Emi Buendia as your No 9 on the opening day of the season is just unforgivable, even if Ollie Watkins is seemingly taking matters into his own hands to force an exit.

Villa have punched above their weight to achieve what they have over the last three years or so, but they are now greatly under resourced. You cannot have your best manager in a generation and not give him the tools. It won't end well and they need to act with some serious conviction in the coming days.

Alex Richards - Brentford

There are a lot of teams that the opening day proved need to do some very good business in the coming week or so. Liverpool need another game-changer in attack, Spurs need all manner of help despite all the money they've spent already and Aston Villa, particularly if Ollie Watkins is becoming the latest out the exit door, pretty much need a new centre-back, No.10 and centre-forward.

But the one I'd really like to see make a move is Brentford. Go and get the kind of midfielder that will get you 10-15 goals this season. I don't care if you break your transfer record or find another uncut gem for a fraction of the cost. Just go and get someone that plugs straight into that midfield and will feast off the chaos that Kevin Schade, Igor Thiago and Dango Outtara cause in attack.

Because that Spurs win, the comparative ease with which they dealt with their London neighbours and the Bees ability to both go direct and now play on the floor, really more than they ever have before, tells me Keith Andrews' side can be in the Champions League mix.

They were't far off nabbing a European spot last term, only missing out on the final day. A midfielder who hits double figures would get them there.

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