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 the lead that Cody Gakpo had already established. Gakpo’s early strike set the tone, and he promptly supplied a low cross that found Jacquet inside the box.
The young centre‑back made no mistake, tapping the ball home to double Liverpool's advantage. Shortly after the goal, Jacquet was substituted for fellow new signing Ronald Araujo at the break, allowing the manager to give both newcomers a taste of first‑team action.
The second half saw a dip in Liverpool's intensity, which Como exploited by dominating possession and creating a few half‑chances. Nevertheless, the home side held firm, and the scoreline remained unchanged. The match served as a useful contrast to Liverpool's recent wobble against Monaco, where they squandered a two‑goal lead. This time, the Reds displayed greater composure, even as Ryan Gravenberch rattled the crossbar in the closing stages.
Beyond Jacquet and Gakpo, several other players impressed. Jeremie Frimpong impressed with his marauding runs down the right flank, while Rio Ngumoha offered a solid midfield presence. However, not everyone shone. Alexander Isak, who had found the net against Monaco, missed an early opportunity for Como, striking the post, and Florian Wirtz’s attempts were largely speculative, offering little threat to Liverpool's defence.
Key moments of the encounter included: - 8' – Isak’s effort bounced off the far post for Como. - 23' – Frimpong delivered a pinpoint pass to Gakpo, who fired Liverpool ahead.
- 44' – Gakpo’s cross was met by Jacquet, who calmly slotted the ball home. - 58' – Rodriguez’s shot clipped the side‑netting for Como. - 85' – Diao’s effort struck the Liverpool crossbar on the counter.
- 89' – Szoboszlai’s pass found Gravenberch, who hit the bar. When the teams were announced, Anfield’s speakers called out Jacquet’s name, and the crowd responded with a warm welcome. The Frenchman repaid that affection with a performance that could earn him a place in the starting lineup against Newcastle United next week.
Within the first half‑minute, he showed intent with purposeful passes, signalling his desire to inject energy into a backline that had sometimes appeared sluggish under Arne Slot’s previous regime. A quarter of an hour in, the Kop erupted as Jacquet executed a robust challenge, holding his ground against an opponent and demonstrating both composure and physicality. While his overall display was impressive, it was not without blemishes. He missed a tackle just before the 30‑minute mark, requiring Frimpong to cover for him, and a mis‑kicked clearance later in the half was redeemed by a timely interception inside the box.
Jacquet’s goal, a simple tap‑in from Gakpo’s cross, capped a solid first half before he was substituted for Araujo. Although Araujo arrived on loan, the club views Jacquet as a long‑term solution for the centre‑back position, making his debut a promising sign for the future. Statistically, Ibrahima Konaté displayed bursts of speed, but his overall mobility sometimes lagged.
At 35, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk needs a partner who can match his pace, and Jacquet appears to fit that requirement, offering both athleticism and technical ability. Andoni Iraola, Liverpool’s head coach, praised the team’s performance: "We needed that clean‑sheet feeling and a win. The first half was stronger than the second, but we maintained our organization and composure. It’s encouraging to finish a friendly without conceding." He continued, "We are improving compared to last week.
I hope we are even better next week. Many players completed the full 90 minutes without cramps, which is a positive sign.
Still, the second half showed areas we must work on." Iraola emphasized the importance of consistency: "Every player must give their best every minute, every action. I’m pleased with the squad’s attitude. They are training hard, and I’m asking them to adjust some aspects, especially off the ball, and they are responding. We’re not perfect yet, but the willingness to align is evident, and we’ll get there." Regarding Jacquet, he added, "Jeremy performed exceptionally well, and Ronald also impressed after coming on.
Jeremie Frimpong delivered a strong performance at right‑back, contributing both offensively and defensively. Overall, we saw solid displays at the back." The friendly provided a valuable platform for new signings to integrate, for the coaching staff to assess tactical tweaks, and for fans to glimpse the shape of the squad ahead of the Premier League season. With the next competitive test looming at St James’ Park, Liverpool will aim to build on this confidence‑boosting win, refine the second‑half intensity, and solidify their defensive partnerships. The combination of youthful vigor from players like Jacquet and seasoned leadership from van Dijk could prove pivotal as the Reds strive for another title challenge.