Jeremy Jacquet stole the spotlight as Liverpool secured a reassuring 2-0 triumph over Como in the final pre‑season friendly at Anfield. The 21‑year‑old French centre‑back, who joined the club from Rennes in February, celebrated his debut by netting the second goal just before the interval, extending Andoni Iraola's side's advantage after Cody Gakpo had opened the scoring. Gakpo delivered a precise pass that set up Jacquet for an easy tap‑in, a moment that turned out to be the French youngster's final contribution before he was substituted for fellow newcomer Ronald Araujo at half‑time. The tempo of the match slowed after the change, a development that suited the visitors, who enjoyed more possession in the second period.
Liverpool had been forced to surrender a two‑goal lead against Monaco the previous week, but this time the hosts avoided a repeat of that drama – even Ryan Gravenberch struck the cross‑bar in the closing stages. Alongside Gakpo and Jacquet, Jeremie Frimpong and Rio Ngumoha also impressed, providing a glimpse of the depth available to Iraola. Some players, however, still have work to do. Alexander Isak, who had found the net against Monaco, missed an early chance for Liverpool, striking the post, while German playmaker Florian Wirtz, also a scorer in the Monaco game, was largely ineffective.
The real test begins next Sunday at St James’ Park, where Liverpool will face Newcastle United. Key moments of the match included: - 8′ POST!
Isak’s bouncing effort clanged against the far post. - 23′ GOAL!
Frimpong’s clever run freed Gakpo, who fired Liverpool ahead. - 44′ GOAL! Gakpo laid the ball across for Jacquet, who calmly tapped it home.
- 58′ CLOSE! Rodriguez’s effort for Como struck the side‑netting. - 85′ CLOSE!
Diao’s shot skimmed the Liverpool cross‑bar on a swift counter‑attack. - 89′ BAR! Szoboszlai found Gravenberch, but the Dutchman hit the bar. When the teams were announced, Jacquet’s name was called out, and Anfield gave him a warm reception.
He responded with a performance that underlined his claim for a starting berth against Newcastle next week. Within the first half‑minute, Jacquet demonstrated his intent with purposeful passes that injected energy into a Liverpool backline that had sometimes appeared sluggish under Arne Slot’s previous regime. Around the 15‑minute mark, the Kop erupted in chants of his name after he executed a robust challenge in front of the stand, successfully holding off his opponent in the ensuing duel. Jacquet displayed composure and a hint of steel, qualities that impressed both fans and coaching staff.
His debut was not without blemishes. Just before the 30‑minute mark, he missed a tackle and required Frimpong to cover him with a timely intervention.
A slightly errant clearance followed, but he redeemed himself with a vital interception inside the penalty area shortly thereafter. The decisive moment arrived when Gakpo’s cross found Jacquet, who turned it into a simple tap‑in, sealing a solid first‑half performance before being substituted at the break.
While Araujo arrived on loan, Jacquet is viewed as the long‑term solution for Liverpool’s central defence, and his debut offered a promising sign of things to come. Statistical analysis shows Ibrahima Konaté’s pace can be inconsistent, occasionally taking time to reach top speed.
At 35, captain Virgil van Dijk now needs a faster partner to complement his defensive responsibilities. Jacquet appears to fit that role, providing both agility and composure.
Andoni Iraola, Liverpool’s head coach, praised the team’s display: “We needed the confidence that comes from keeping a clean sheet and winning. The first half was stronger than the second, but we maintained our organization and composure. It’s a good feeling to finish without conceding.” He continued, “We are better than last week.
I hope we improve further next week. The first half was certainly better, but many players completed the full 90 minutes without cramps, which is encouraging.” Iraola added, “There is still work to do, especially in the second half. Every player must give their all, every minute, every action. I’m delighted with the squad’s attitude; they train hard and I’m asking them to adapt, particularly when we are out of possession.
They are making progress.” Regarding Jacquet, the manager said, “Jeremy performed very well, and Ronald also did a great job when he came on. Jeremie Frimpong gave a solid performance, playing the full 90 minutes as a right‑back, contributing offensively while defending his side effectively. Overall, we saw several strong displays at the back.” In summary, Jacquet’s debut not only added a goal to the scoreboard but also signaled a potential new defensive partnership for Liverpool.
His composure, willingness to engage physically, and ability to recover from minor mistakes bode well for his future involvement. As the season approaches, the Reds will look to build on this performance, fine‑tune their defensive cohesion, and aim to translate pre‑season confidence into competitive success.