Jeremy Jacquet stole the spotlight as Liverpool secured a reassuring 2-0 victory over Como in the final pre‑season friendly at Anfield, providing a much‑needed confidence boost ahead of the new campaign. The 21‑year‑old French defender, who joined the Reds from Rennes in February, marked his first appearance for the club by netting the second goal just before the interval, extending the lead that Cody Gakpo had already established.
The opening strike came when Gakpo found space on the left flank and unleashed a low drive that beat the Como goalkeeper, giving Liverpool an early advantage. Minutes later, Gakpo combined with Jacquet, threading a precise cross into the box.
The young centre‑back timed his run perfectly and tapped the ball home, sealing a 2-0 lead at the break. After the goal, Jacquet was substituted for fellow newcomer Ronald Araujo, allowing the manager to evaluate both fresh faces in the back line. The second half saw a noticeable dip in tempo from Liverpool, a factor that played into Como's hands. The Italian side began to dominate possession and create a few half‑chances, but the Anfield hosts remained disciplined defensively, limiting any serious threat.
The match ended without further scoring, but the performance offered plenty of talking points for both sides. Liverpool's previous pre‑season fixture against Monaco had been a roller‑coaster, with the Reds surrendering a two‑goal cushion before salvaging a draw. This time, they avoided a repeat, although Ryan Gravenberch rattled the crossbar late on, hinting at lingering defensive frailties that need polishing.
In addition to Gakpo and Jacquet, other newcomers such as Jeremie Frimpong and Rio Ngumoha impressed, showcasing the depth and versatility that manager Andoni Iraola now has at his disposal. Not everyone was at their best. Alexander Isak, who had found the net against Monaco, struck the post early in the game and then faded, while German playmaker Florian Wirtz, also a Monaco scorer, failed to make a significant impact. Both will be looking to rediscover form when the season kicks off, particularly for Liverpool in the upcoming league clash at St James' Park.
Key moments of the match included: - 8' – Isak's effort bounced off the far post. - 23' – Frimpong delivered a brilliant pass to Gakpo, who opened the scoring. - 44' – Gakpo’s cross was met by Jacquet, who calmly tapped it home. - 58' – Como's Rodriguez fired a shot that rattled the side‑netting.
- 85' – Diao's counter‑attack cross struck the Liverpool crossbar. - 89' – Szoboszlai set up Gravenberch, whose header hit the bar. Jacquet's name was announced with a special welcome as the teams lined up, and the young defender repaid the fans' enthusiasm with a standout showing. His early contribution, within the first half‑minute, came from a series of purposeful passes that highlighted his intent to inject energy into a Liverpool defence that had appeared sluggish under Arne Slot last season.
By the 15‑minute mark, the Kop was already chanting his name after a robust challenge that saw him hold off an opponent in a tight duel, demonstrating both composure and physicality. While his overall performance was impressive, it was not without blemishes. Just before the 30‑minute mark, Jacquet missed a tackle and required Jeremie Frimpong to cover for him with a timely interception.
A subsequent clearance was clumsy, but he redeemed himself shortly after with a vital interception inside his own penalty area, averting a potential danger. His goal, a simple tap‑in from Gakpo’s cross, capped a solid first half before he was taken off at halftime to make way for Araujo, who has been signed on loan but is already being evaluated as a long‑term partner for the French defender. Statistically, the match highlighted the contrasting pace of Liverpool's back line.
Ibrahima Konaté displayed bursts of speed, yet occasionally needed a moment to get fully engaged. At 35, captain Virgil van Dijk now relies on quick, agile partners to complement his experience. Jacquet appears to provide the ideal blend of speed, technical ability, and defensive awareness that could rejuvenate Liverpool’s central defence. After the game, Iraola praised the team's performance, emphasizing the importance of a clean sheet and a win: "We needed this feeling of finishing with a clean sheet and winning the game.
The first half was better than the second, but at least we kept our organisation and composure. We found a way to finish with a clean sheet, and that was the feeling we wanted before we started." He added, "We are better than we were last week. I hope next week we are better than we were today. You can say the first half is still better than the second half, but today a lot of players played 90 minutes and they finished with no cramps.
It's an improvement, but especially in the second half we need to be better." Iraola continued, "We need every player, every time, every minute, every action, and that's the commitment. I'm very happy with the attitude of the players. They are training really well. I am asking them to do things that are a little bit different, especially without the ball, and I think they are trying to get it.
We are not perfect. We have things to improve but I'm very happy with their attitude, their willingness to be on the same page and we will get there." Regarding Jacquet specifically, he said, "Jeremy played really well, also Ronald played really well when he came in.
Also, a very good performance from Jeremie Frimpong, who played 90 minutes as a right‑back, helping us offensively but also defending his side very well. Some good performances at the back." Overall, the friendly offered a promising glimpse of Liverpool's evolving squad. Jacquet's debut goal and solid defensive display suggest he could be a regular starter as the season approaches, while the contributions from other new signings hint at a competitive environment that could push the team to higher standards. The next challenge awaits at St James' Park, where Liverpool will test their readiness against a strong Newcastle side, and fans will be eager to see whether the optimism from Anfield translates into results on the league stage.