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Cody Gakpo sends double message as Andoni Iraola gets Liverpool wish - 5 talking points vs Como Liverpool beat Como at Anfield with Cody Gakpo and Jeremy Jacquet both scoring. This is what we spotted as Andoni Iraola's side concluded their pre-season schedule. ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL // Andoni Iraola's Liverpool continued preparations for next week's Premier League opener at Newcastle by beating the Serie A side Como by two goals to nil. Cody Gakpo, who impressed for large spells, opened the scoring around halfway through the first half. The Dutch winger finished well when teed up by a Jeremie Frimpong cross, and Jeremy Jacquet, who was exceptional on a perfect debut, doubled the Reds' lead just before the interval. Ronald Araujo made his debut in the second half after arriving from Barcelona, but there was less intensity from both sides. Here are the five things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded. Jeremy Jacquet stars After one summer signing in the form of Victor Munoz impressed earlier on, fellow new boys Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo played half the game each. It was important, Andoni Iraola said, to take a look at both center-backs before the season properly kicks off. Jacquet's performance, in particular, should calm a few nerves among the Liverpool fanbase: he was excellent. Jacquet didn't put a foot wrong, making a string of good tackles and blocks. To cap it all off, he scored his first goal in a Liverpool shirt from a low Gakpo cross. Araujo, meanwhile, was a solid performer as well. He slotted straight in, though he had less things to do in a quieter half. Both were promising, but on this evidence, it should be Jacquet with the jersey at St James' Park. Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz signs Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz linked up very well for around half an hour against Monaco before things went off the boil. Here, it was more mixed, and they weren't always on the same wavelength. It should come in time, but patience will be required for the partnership to fully click. On paper, at least, they are too good as individuals not to work it out. Once they are both fully up to speed, there is more potential to be realized. The quicker that happens, though, the better, not least with Hugo Ekitike sidelined. Without that front two firing on all cylinders, Liverpool will find things tough when the season properly gets going. With it on form and doing well, the sky is the limit. Fortunately, one major positive in attack, even if he is still of interest to Spurs this summer, was Gakpo. With a goal and an assist in the first half, he looked sharper than he has for a good while. Assuming he stays, that can only be a big boost after he endured a difficult campaign. Midfield response Curtis Jones was missing again here, a week after sitting out the friendly with Monaco. That is unlikely to dampen the speculation about an exit amid continued interest from Inter Milan. If Liverpool does lose Jones, it would be a major risk not to replace him, as well as Trey Nyoni has done in recent weeks. There is an ongoing question about whether the midfield is solid enough as it is. On this occasion, though Como is very much a passing team rather than a direct and physical one, Liverpool looked a lot more solid (albeit not perfect) as a defensive unit. There were no major concerns regarding the midfield being bypassed. As a double pivot, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch kept things relatively tight in the center, and didn't let much past them. The intensity will be very different in a weeks' time at Newcastle, however, and beyond that too. Andoni Iraola wish granted Last time out, despite a strong opening third of the game against Monaco, things unraveled pretty quickly for Liverpool, with a second-half turnaround leading to a defeat. Iraola admitted then that his players still had lots of work to do before the new season, so has progress been made in the last week? Monaco and Como, the latter of whom qualified for the Champions League under Cesc Fabregas, are comparable sides. Here, Liverpool went 2-0 up once again. This time, just as Andoni Iraola wanted a week ago, his side was able to manage things much better. It still lacks depth, with a very strong starting XI but not much beyond that in some key positions, but this was another step in the right direction. It needs another jump forward in terms of readiness when it kicks off in the Premier League in seven days. Premier League ready? With pre-season now concluded, what has Iraola learned? His side is still not perfect, but it begins the new campaign with five straight fixtures against teams with new head coaches. Liverpool is in the same position, of course, and it might take a little while longer to get up to speed with exactly what Iraola wants. When it clicks, though, it should be exciting. What is realistic in terms of achievements? Arsenal appears to be the side to catch. Liverpool needs more in the way of additions to the squad to reach its full potential too. Here, though, it got some more valuable minutes under its belt.