Liverpool's £60m Signing Jeremy Jacquet Impresses in All Areas
Liverpool invested £60 million in Jeremy Jacquet knowing there was some risk involved due to his young age and limited experience. Just seven games into his career with the club, he’s already showing signs that this investment could pay off.
According to Andy Jones of The Athletic, Jacquet arrived after a tough period of injury setbacks, including a shoulder injury and a minor knee issue that kept him out for 190 days before Liverpool's last pre-season match against Como. At 21 years old and only 57 senior appearances in his career, patience seemed necessary. Instead, Jacquet has settled in quickly under manager Andoni Iraola.
Jacquet Fits Iraola’s Defensive Style Perfectly
Jacquet’s performance in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth highlighted his key attributes. He intercepted a dangerous attack near his own penalty area, moved forward confidently, passed to Bradley Barcola, and then found Alexander Isak with a smart assist. Shortly after, he made another interception that led to another attacking chance.
His aggressive defending is exactly what Iraola demands. The centre-backs must step up to engage attackers early, keeping the team compact and allowing the forwards to press higher. Jacquet’s natural style suits this approach well.
- Premier League duel success rate: 76.3%
- Aerial duel success rate: 76.9%
Among defenders with over 300 minutes played, only Everton’s James Tarkowski has a better duel success rate.
Van Dijk Urges Caution
"He has had an excellent start, but we are only in September," said Virgil van Dijk after the Bournemouth win. "I want him to keep working and learning. There is obviously a lot of praise, and rightly so, but I know how it works when you play a game that doesn’t meet the standards you have set. So let’s just stay calm and keep working."
Iraola also noted Jacquet’s physical growth adapting to the Premier League’s pace. Early on, Jacquet struggled with cramping and fatigue, sometimes needing to be substituted. Lately, though, his stamina has improved, finishing games strongly.
Exceptional Passing Enhances Liverpool’s Build-Up
Perhaps Jacquet’s standout skill is how he transitions from defense to attack. Unlike some previous defenders, he quickly turns possession wins into forward moves. According to The Athletic, Jacquet has already completed 57 passes into the final third—third highest among Premier League defenders—and made 76 line-breaking passes, ranking sixth.
This blend of physicality, anticipation, and progressive passing explains why France’s senior national team under Zinedine Zidane has called him up despite his young age.
Analysis from Anfield Index
Watching Jacquet is exciting because he displays qualities usually seen only after several years in top-flight football. Against Bournemouth, he carried the responsibility well, defending aggressively and remaining composed with the ball.
His ability to break lines with passing adds unpredictability to Liverpool’s build-up, meaning opponents can’t just target one defender to disrupt play. His partnership with right-back Ronald Araujo has coincided with three consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League, limiting Ipswich, Fulham, and Bournemouth to under 0.80 expected goals each.
For Liverpool fans, the biggest relief is how quickly worries about the centre-back position have eased. Tough matches against Manchester City, Brentford, Brighton, and Arsenal loom after the international break, and those will test Jacquet further.
For now, Liverpool’s £60m gamble looks more sensible. Jacquet seems determined to make the centre-back role his own.
