Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet impressed on his debut in the 2-0 victory over Como, with former Reds striker Neil Mellor delivering a positive verdict on the new signing
Jeremy Jacquet made his first appearance for Liverpool on Sunday
Jeremy Jacquet made his first appearance for Liverpool on Sunday(Image: Getty Images)
Jeremy Jacquet savored a memorable Anfield bow as Liverpool concluded its preseason schedule with a morale-boosting 2-0 triumph over Como.
Jacquet was making his first appearance for the club following his transfer from Stade Rennais and celebrated the milestone by netting his side's second goal.
An assured display reached its peak when the 21-year-old converted Cody Gakpo's low cross from close range. Speaking afterward, former Reds forward Neil Mellor believes what made Jacquet's "accomplished" showing particularly impressive was that he hadn't featured since sustaining a serious shoulder injury, which ended his season last term shortly after finalizing his switch to Anfield.
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"When you are looking at standout moments and positives from this game, certainly Jeremy Jacquet was one of those," Mellor told LFCTV.
"The fact that we were waiting when he would make his first appearance for Liverpool? When will it be? Would it be in America? Which we thought it would be, and it wasn't, and the game against Monaco wasn't, and we have had to wait until today.
"But what an accomplished performance it was from him. He just looked at home at the center of that defense here at Anfield alongside Virgil van Dijk.
Jacquet played alongside Virgil van Dijk on Sunday
Jacquet played alongside Virgil van Dijk on Sunday(Image: Getty Images)
"Six months, six months without a game, without football, and no matter who you are, that is not easy, but he looked so accomplished.
"He also got himself a goal as well. How many goals he will get this season, I am not sure, but he will be a threat from set-pieces, but stopping goals will be his thing."
France U21 international Jacquet was substituted by fellow debutant Ronald Araujo at the interval.
Araujo has taken a reduction in wages to enable his loan switch from Barcelona to Liverpool, with the Reds holding an option to make the defender's transfer permanent next summer.
While primarily a center-half, Mellor reckons the Uruguay international may find himself deployed at right-back during the season.
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"He looked comfortable, and another new player who has come into the team," he said. "As good as he has been over there with Barcelona, he has got to settle in now.
"Again, he was alongside Virgil van Dijk, and he may at times be asked to play at right full-back, but what he needed to do, he looked assured.
"He looked comfortable, and he looked aggressive. I think the fans will like that as well. He dealt with situations nicely."