Liverpool's Defensive Woes: Iraola Faces Pre-Season Challenges
Liverpool face a mounting defensive headache as they head into their final pre-season double-header against Como, with big-money signing Jeremy Jacquet at the centre of growing fitness concerns.
Iraola’s first problem to solve
Andoni Iraola has not even taken charge of a competitive game yet, but the new Liverpool manager is already staring at a depth chart that looks alarmingly thin in central defence.
For periods this week, Virgil van Dijk has effectively stood alone as the only fully fit senior centre-back.
Jacquet, the £60million arrival from Rennes, has yet to kick a ball in pre-season. An unspecified issue kept him out of the 3-2 defeat to Monaco, adding to the unease around a player whose previous campaign was cut short by a shoulder problem. The Frenchman is at least back in full training ahead of Como’s visit, but Liverpool are still waiting to see if he can be risked.
Iraola, wary of gambling on his marquee defender before the Premier League starts, has already moved to protect himself. Ronald Araujo has come in on loan from Barcelona, a clear sign the new boss is not willing to rely on hope and youth alone to get him through the opening weeks.
Injuries bite at the back
The problems do not stop with Jacquet.
Giovanni Leoni remains a long-term absentee, still working his way back from the ACL injury he suffered on debut in the Carabao Cup this time last year. Joe Gomez has joined the list too, limping off during the 4-2 win over Sunderland with a muscle injury that is expected to wreck his chances of starting the season. He was replaced that day by youngster Ifeanyi Ndukwe.
Ndukwe, along with fellow recent signing Talla Ndiaye and academy product Luke Chambers, has been heavily involved in pre-season. Their minutes underline just how stretched Liverpool are, and how quickly Iraola may have to lean on the club’s next generation.
There has also been change by choice, not just by misfortune. Ibrahima Konate has gone, leaving on a free transfer at the end of his contract to join Real Madrid. One more experienced body out of the dressing room. One more gap to fill.
Midfield and World Cup worries
The injury list does not end with defenders.
Curtis Jones has been nursing a hip problem amid links with Inter Milan. He missed the Monaco defeat but has now returned to training, offering some relief in an area of the pitch where Iraola will want continuity and control from day one.
There is also a watchful eye on Liverpool’s World Cup finalists. Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz are both back at the club after their countries’ runs to the final, but their workloads will be managed carefully. Match sharpness, fatigue, and the emotional toll of a deep international tournament all hang over their involvement in these final tune-ups.
Conor Bradley (knee) and Hugo Ekitike (Achilles) are longer-term casualties and will play no part. The absentees keep stacking up.
What Iraola has left
There are positives. Van Dijk returned to action against Monaco, as did first-choice goalkeeper Alisson. The spine of the team, at least, is visible again.
The question now is how bold Iraola wants to be on Sunday, with two games against Como at Anfield — one behind closed doors at 11.30am BST and a ticketed friendly at 6pm BST. Does he roll out what he believes is his strongest XI and chase rhythm? Or does he continue to mix seniors and youngsters, protecting fragile bodies and gambling that cohesion can come later?
On paper, Liverpool’s likely line-up in a 4-2-3-1 looks strong:
Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, van Dijk, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch; Ngumouha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
But even that comes with caveats. Jacquet, Jones, Mac Allister and Munoz are all listed as doubts. Bradley, Leoni, Ekitike, Gomez and Danns are already ruled out.
So Iraola walks into Anfield on Sunday with a clear picture: his senior options are stretched, his young talents are eager, and the Premier League is looming fast.
With Como in town and the season almost upon them, Liverpool’s new manager is about to discover just how much risk he is willing to take before the real thing starts.
