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Andoni Iraola Sets Jeremy Jacquet's Return for Liverpool Ahead of Como Friendlies

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has confirmed that summer signing Jeremy Jacquet is nearing his first appearance for the club. The French defender, acquired from Rennes in a deal worth up to £60 million, has been carefully managed due to a shoulder injury but is expected to play in Liverpool’s upcoming double-header against Como.

Injury Management and Progress

The 21-year-old missed the start of Liverpool’s pre-season matches, including the recent 3-2 loss to Monaco at Anfield, which raised doubts about his fitness ahead of the Premier League season. Jacquet spent the past week training separately from the main squad as he continues rehabilitation following his shoulder surgery, an issue that arose shortly after his transfer was agreed in January.

"We were unsure whether to select him for the Monaco game, so we decided against it," Iraola told LFCTV after the match. "But he should be ready for the next one."

This cautious approach reflects the club’s concern over Jacquet’s previous shoulder injury, especially after another defender, Joe Gomez, sustained a setback recently. Despite this, the medical team appears satisfied with his recovery, making his debut highly likely soon.

Strengthening Liverpool’s Defense

The timing of Jacquet’s return is important for Liverpool’s defense. During the Monaco friendly, only Virgil van Dijk and Ifeanyi Ndukwe were fit specialist center-backs. While Ndukwe has performed well, the lack of experienced defenders has caused some worry among supporters.

On top of Jacquet’s arrival, Liverpool recently secured a loan deal for Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo, adding further depth and competition to the defensive line. Jacquet himself has expressed enthusiasm about learning from Van Dijk, saying, "Training with Virgil van Dijk is huge. He's going to teach me so much. Training alongside players like that doesn’t get any better."

Upcoming Friendly Double-Header Against Como

Liverpool’s pre-season wraps up with two matches against Como scheduled for next Sunday. The first will be a behind-closed-doors game at the AXA Training Centre at noon, followed by a public fixture at 6 pm.

Iraola is expected to treat the evening match as a final rehearsal before the Premier League season starts, while Jacquet may get some playing time in the private session to regain match fitness away from the spotlight.

  • Club: Liverpool
  • Opponent: Como
  • Dates: Sunday, double-header at 12:00 and 18:00
  • Recent result: 3-2 loss vs Monaco (friendly)
  • Key players available: Virgil van Dijk, Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Jeremy Jacquet (expected)
  • New signing: Jeremy Jacquet (£60m transfer from Rennes)
  • Additional reinforcement: Ronald Araujo (loan from Barcelona)

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