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Last summer, having just become Premier League champions as well as centurions after racking up 100 points, Manchester City and Pep Guardiola still went out and smashed the club's transfer record.

£60m was parted with, and Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez was brought to the Etihad Stadium as the Citizens looked to defend their title.

They did, but only just - City won the lead by a single point over Liverpool.

You can relive Liverpool's Champions League celebrations in glorious 2D thanks to the guys at 442oons in the video below...

Mahrez played a bit-part role and made just 14 league starts, even expressing frustration at his lack of game time midway through the campaign, but he made the difference.

His goal away to Bournemouth helped earn a hard-fought 1-0 win, whilst he also grabbed the winner in a 2-1 win over Watford - City would've dropped four points without the Algerian.

The point being made here? No one would've blamed City for not signing anyone last summer, but they continued to invest and got their reward.

Liverpool could very easily rest on their laurels and it has already been reported that they'll have a low key summer, but they would be wrong to do that.

City showed the level that Liverpool need to reach last season when they pipped them to the title and the Reds must emulate their ambition to get to that level, or there will be no sympathy for them if they fail again to win the league.

RMC journalist Mohamed Bouhafsi broke the news that Liverpool are 'well placed' to sign Lille forward Nicolas Pepe, who is a wanted man after hitting 22 goals and recording 12 assists last term as he helped his side finish second in Ligue 1.

The price? €80m (£71.36m).

Liverpool fans may scoff at that figure and say that they don't need him, but with the league, cups and Club World Cup on their schedule next season, they should follow City's lead and strengthen an already strong side to truly kick on.