Andoni Iraola Praises Jeremy Jacquet's Progress at Liverpool

Andoni Iraola says Jeremy Jacquet is closing in on peak condition after an eye-catching first month in a Liverpool shirt.

The 21-year-old centre-back completed his £60million move from Rennes in July, having agreed the transfer back in January, but arrived on Merseyside still working his way back from shoulder surgery that ended his previous season in February. The operation wiped out a large part of his year and a significant chunk of Liverpool’s pre-season.

He has wasted no time making up for it.

Jacquet impressed on his first outing for the club in the final pre-season friendly against Como and has since forced his way straight into Iraola’s plans, starting all four of Liverpool’s competitive fixtures so far this campaign.

The defender ticked off an important milestone last Friday, completing his first full 90 minutes in the 2-0 win at Ipswich Town. He then backed that up with another full game in midweek as Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Iraola likes what he’s seeing – and not just with the ball at Jacquet’s feet.

“I think he had had good performances. He is still building,” the Liverpool head coach said, reflecting on the Frenchman’s early weeks at Anfield.

“The first games, he couldn’t finish. Against Ipswich, he finished but he was very tired. I was very happy the other night because he finished and he had no issues and was fresh. He finished quite strong.

“He is building his physical condition after a lot of months without playing.”

Liverpool did their homework long before Jacquet walked through the door, and Iraola made it clear the club knew exactly what kind of defender they were getting.

“He is a player that we knew about his qualities. He is confident on the ball, he is aggressive without the ball,” Iraola said.

“He is quick and mentality-wise, you can see he is hungry to win things, to play minutes. Obviously I am very happy with him.”

A big fee, a delayed start, and now a rapid rise into the starting XI. Jacquet’s Liverpool story is only just beginning, but Iraola’s early verdict is already emphatic.