Liverpool 2-0 Como: Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo Impress Before Newcastle Opener
Pre-season friendlies are usually a poor place to make grand statements. The tempo drifts, the line-ups change, and the conclusions are often flimsy. This one was different. Liverpool beat Como 2-0 at Anfield and, for long spells, looked like a team sharpening itself for the real business to come under Andoni Iraola.
The headline was obvious. Jeremy Jacquet walked into the side, defended with authority, scored on debut and left the pitch with Anfield singing his name. Ronald Araujo arrived later and gave a reminder that Liverpool now have another defender who enjoys the ugly side of the job, the tackles, the duels, the confrontations. For a manager who demands intensity and concentration, that matters.
This was not flawless. It did not need to be. It was, however, convincing enough to suggest several players have edged themselves into serious contention for the Premier League opener against Newcastle.
Jeremy Jacquet gives Liverpool a real selection problem
Start with Jacquet, because there is nowhere else to start. Debuts can be noisy without being meaningful. This was meaningful. He grew into the game quickly, then started swatting away danger with the timing and aggression of a defender who had already settled into the level.
Two slide tackles in quick succession stood out, both clean, both decisive. He then blocked what looked a certain Como equaliser inside the six-yard box, before producing another stretched intervention soon after. There were a few loose touches in possession, which is normal, and not something worth dressing up. Defenders are there to defend first. He did that very well.
Then he scored. Tap-ins do not tell the full story of a performance, but they do finish it neatly. By the time he went off at half-time, Jacquet had done enough to be the clear man of the match.
Photo: IMAGO
Virgil van Dijk helped him through the occasion, visibly talking him through phases of play, and that sort of guidance matters. Van Dijk himself looked exactly what you would expect, calm, positionally sharp and in control. One late recovery tackle to stop a one-on-one chance was outstanding, and his involvement in the move for Jacquet’s goal showed the value of experience when games open up.
Araujo, introduced in the second half, had little interest in trying to match Jacquet for style points. He kept it simpler, harder and more direct. One full-blooded sliding tackle brought the crowd up immediately, and there were enough strong interventions after that to underline what he offers. Liverpool will need that edge over the season.
Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak show attacking promise
Going forward, Cody Gakpo was Liverpool’s sharpest attacker. He played with urgency, which is usually the difference between a decent display and one that actually changes a match. He drove between defenders to create for Alexander Isak, then scored himself with a clean left-footed finish. Later, he supplied the cross for Jacquet to score.
That was the sort of performance that forces a conversation. There has been uncertainty around Gakpo at various points, but if he plays with that level of conviction, he becomes difficult to leave out.
Isak looked lively from the start. His movement was the best part of his game, clever runs, good angles, and an understanding of where the space might open. He hit the post early with a very good effort and remained a threat even without getting on the scoresheet. The developing connection with Florian Wirtz also had a few signs of life, including a neat lay-off from Wirtz that Isak could only send over.
Wirtz still looks like a player figuring out how and when to impose himself. There were tidy moments and flashes of technical quality, but no sustained control of the game. That will come, or it will not. For now, the signs are encouraging without being decisive.
Rio Ngumoha had some useful moments down the right and linked reasonably with Jeremie Frimpong, but he faded. Frimpong himself was improved, more secure defensively and productive going forward, especially with the measured ball that led to Gakpo’s goal.
Midfield and full-back areas still need greater control
In midfield, Dominik Szoboszlai gradually took charge and drove Liverpool forward better as the match wore on. Ryan Gravenberch was serviceable, neat enough in possession, but still left too much room in front of the defence. Against stronger opposition, that space gets punished.
Milos Kerkez produced a mixed display. There was nothing disastrous in it, but not much authority either. Steady is acceptable in August. It becomes a problem if it remains the standard by October.
Off the bench, Trey Nyoni continued a very good pre-season with another composed cameo. He looks ready to contribute. Victor Munoz brought needed speed and directness late on, while Lewis Koumas offered effort without enough quality to make a stronger case. One overhit cross with three targets waiting in the box said plenty.
Liverpool player ratings vs Como
Alisson Becker, 7/10
Jeremie Frimpong, 7/10
Jeremy Jacquet, 9/10
Virgil van Dijk, 7/10
Milos Kerkez, 6/10
Dominik Szoboszlai, 6/10
Ryan Gravenberch, 5/10
Florian Wirtz, 6/10
Rio Ngumoha, 5/10
Alexander Isak, 6/10
Cody Gakpo, 8/10
Ronald Araujo, 7/10
Lewis Koumas, 4/10
Trey Nyoni, 6/10
Victor Munoz, 6/10
Will Wright, 5/10
Andoni Iraola, 7/10
The result matters less than the shape of it. Liverpool looked organised, physically ready and, in two debutants, found genuine encouragement. Jacquet was the standout, Araujo was solid, Gakpo was effective and Isak looked dangerous. That is enough to send the team into the Newcastle game with some confidence, and enough to suggest Iraola has a few selection decisions to make.