news-engine

It isn’t very often a centre-back is afforded a chant by the Kop barely 15 minutes into his first appearance at Anfield. But such has been the nail-biting and teeth-gnashing over the problem at the heart of the Liverpool defence throughout pre-season, the sight of a senior player impressing alongside captain Virgil van Dijk was sufficient for those present to be enthused. Jeremy Jacquet has had a long wait for his Reds bow, a £60million deal to sign him this summer from Rennes agreed in January and a subsequent shoulder injury keeping him out of the team until this final pre-season friendly against Como. Not much has been known of the 21-year-old, so first impressions were always going to count. And this was a good one from Jacquet, who appears both tall and fast. Most importantly, he can defend, and one important challenge in the area before holding off a forward and passing the ball clear was sufficient for the Anfield crowd to sound their appreciation. It continued throughout the first half, with the France under-21 international making another couple of vital interceptions and then capping his evening by tapping in Liverpool’s second goal shortly before the interval. There are obviously plenty of rough edges to smooth - Jacquet goes to ground a little too easily and his eagerness to defend proactively saw him out of position on occasion - but this was an encouraging first glimpse. And the fact Jacquet played the first 45 minutes ahead of loan signing Ronald Araujo could be a hint he has edged ahead of the Uruguayan to start the Premier League opener at Newcastle United next Sunday. With 18-year-old pre-season sensation Ifeanyi Ndukwe absent as he prepares for a loan move, Araujo was given the second half to stake his claim. Eight years and numerous major honours mean the 27-year-old is by no means as wet behind the ears as Jacquet, and that experience, along with his ability to play at right-back, will be valuable this season. Araujo therefore had few issues slotting into the backline with his presence and physicality almost matching that of Van Dijk. Having leaked nine times in their five previous friendlies this pre-season, Liverpool’s clean sheet will be much cherished going into the real thing next weekend. Jacquet, though, has already become a crowd favourite.