Andoni Iraola Confirms Jeremy Jacquet Set to Return as Liverpool Prepares for Como Matches

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has revealed that summer signing Jeremy Jacquet is nearing his first appearance for the club. The defender, signed for up to £60 million from Rennes, has been recovering from a shoulder issue and is expected to play in Liverpool’s upcoming double-header against Como.

Waiting for Jacquet’s First Game

Fans have been eager to see the 21-year-old French defender in action, but he missed the early pre-season matches. Jacquet was absent during Liverpool’s 3-2 loss to Monaco at Anfield, raising doubts about his readiness for the Premier League season ahead.

He spent the past week training separately, continuing his rehab after surgery on his shoulder, an injury sustained soon after his transfer was agreed in January. Despite the recent defeat, Iraola sounded optimistic about Jacquet’s progress.

Iraola Explains Careful Management

"We were unsure whether to include Jeremy today, so we decided not to," said Iraola after the match with Monaco. "But he should be ready for the next game."

This cautious approach reflects the medical team's confidence that Jacquet is improving well. The coach noted the defender started pre-season strongly before feeling some discomfort, prompting the club to prioritize his recovery, especially following Joe Gomez's injury.

Strengthening Liverpool’s Defence

Jacquet’s return is timely, as Liverpool’s defence looked stretched against Monaco, with only Virgil van Dijk and Ifeanyi Ndukwe available as specialist centre-backs. Although Ndukwe showed promise, fans have voiced concerns about defensive depth.

Reinforcements are on the way, including a loan signing of Ronald Araujo from Barcelona, set to add competition and quality at the back. Jacquet has expressed enthusiasm about learning from the captain, saying, "Training with Virgil van Dijk is huge. He’s going to teach me so much. Training alongside players like him doesn’t get better than that."

Final Pre-Season Test Against Como

Liverpool will wrap up their pre-season with two matches against Como next Sunday. The first will be a closed-door game at noon at the AXA Training Centre, followed by a public fixture at 6pm. It’s expected that Iraola will treat the evening match as a final run-through before the league starts.

Jacquet might get minutes in the earlier, private session to regain match fitness away from the public eye, setting the stage for his competitive debut.

• Upcoming Matches:
• Arsenal vs Como: 12 August 2026, 20:30
• Liverpool vs Como: 16 August 2026, 13:00