Jeremy Jacquet stole the spotlight as Liverpool secured a reassuring 2-0 victory over Como in the final pre‑season friendly at Anfield. The 21‑year‑old French defender, who joined the club from Rennes in February, celebrated his first appearance by netting the second goal just before the interval, extending Andoni Iraola's side's lead after Cody Gakpo had opened the scoring.
The sequence began with Gakpo delivering a precise pass that found Jacquet in a promising position. The youngster calmly slotted the ball home, completing a simple tap‑in that would prove to be his only goal before he was substituted for fellow newcomer Ronald Araujo at the break.
The substitution slowed the tempo, a change that seemed to favour the visitors, who began to dominate possession in the second half. Liverpool had previously squandered a two‑goal advantage against Monaco, but this time they avoided a repeat of that drama.
Even Ryan Gravenberch managed to strike the cross‑bar in the closing stages, underscoring the team's defensive solidity. Alongside Gakpo and Jacquet, Jeremie Frimpong and Rio Ngumoha also impressed, showcasing the depth of Iraola's squad.
Not every player enjoyed a flawless showing. Alexander Isak, who had found the net against Monaco, missed an early opportunity, blasting a shot onto the post. German playmaker Florian Wirtz, also a scorer in the Monaco fixture, struggled to make an impact against the English side. Their performances hint at work still required before the competitive season begins, particularly with the next test slated for St James' Park.
Key moments of the match included: - 8' – Isak's effort ricochets off the far post. - 23' – Frimpong delivers a brilliant pass to Gakpo, who fires Liverpool ahead. - 44' – Gakpo squares the ball across for Jacquet, who taps it into the net.
- 58' – Rodriguez's shot for Como rattles the side netting. - 85' – Diao's cross strikes the Liverpool bar on a counter‑attack. - 89' – Szoboszlai finds Gravenberch, whose attempt clatters against the bar.
When the line‑ups were announced, Jacquet's name was called out, and Anfield offered him a warm welcome. He responded with a performance that justified the applause, making a strong case for a starting berth against Newcastle next week.
Within the first half‑minute, Jacquet displayed intent with purposeful passes that injected energy into a backline that had 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 stands, successfully holding off his opponent in a subsequent tussle for the ball. His composure was evident, yet there was an underlying steel to his play.
The debut was not without blemishes. Just before the 30‑minute point, Jacquet mistimed a challenge and required Jeremie Frimpong to cover him with a timely intervention. A few minutes later, he produced a clumsy clearance that missed the mark, but he quickly redeemed himself by intercepting a dangerous pass inside his own penalty area. His goal, a simple finish from Gakpo's cross, capped a solid first half before he was taken off at halftime.
While Araujo entered the fray on loan, Jacquet is viewed as a long‑term solution for Liverpool's defensive needs, and his promising start bodes well for the club's future plans. Statistically, Ibrahima Konaté displayed bursts of speed, though there were moments when his legs seemed to lag.
At 35, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk now relies on pace from his partners to complement his own defensive acumen. In Jacquet, Iraola appears to have found an ideal, athletic partner to bolster the back line. Andoni Iraola, Liverpool's head coach, summed up the performance: "We needed that feeling of keeping a clean sheet and taking the win. The first half was stronger than the second, but we maintained our organisation and composure.
Finishing with a clean sheet gives us confidence before the season starts." He continued, "We are better than we were last week. I hope we improve even more next week.
The first half was certainly better, but many players completed the full 90 minutes without cramps. It's an improvement, yet we must raise our level, especially in the second half. Every player must give 100% every minute, every action – that’s the commitment I expect.
I'm pleased with the squad's attitude; they train hard and I’m asking them to adapt, particularly in moments without the ball, and they are responding. We are not perfect, but the willingness to align and improve is evident." Regarding Jacquet, Iraola added, "Jeremy performed exceptionally well, and Ronald also impressed when he came on. Jeremie Frimpong delivered a solid 90‑minute performance at right‑back, contributing both offensively and defensively. Overall, we saw strong displays at the back." The friendly served as a valuable gauge of Liverpool's readiness ahead of the Premier League campaign, highlighting promising newcomers, reinforcing the defensive partnership, and offering a glimpse of the tactical adjustments Iraola is implementing.
With the season looming, the Reds will look to build on this momentum, fine‑tune their cohesion, and aim to translate pre‑season confidence into competitive success.