Jeremy Jacquet announced himself to Liverpool supporters in perfect fashion, scoring on his Liverpool debut as the Reds completed their pre-season preparations with a confident 2-0 victory over Serie A side Como at Anfield.

The 21-year-old French defender, whose £60m move had been agreed in January before being confirmed on 1 July, finally made his first appearance after a niggling knee injury delayed the start of his Liverpool career. He rewarded the wait with an impressive defensive display and a goal before half-time.

Cody Gakpo opened the scoring in the 23rd minute after excellent work from Jeremie Frimpong, before Jacquet doubled Liverpool’s advantage just before the break, tapping home from a Gakpo cross.

The clean sheet was equally important for Andoni Iraola’s side after recent defensive struggles, giving Liverpool a timely boost before the start of the Premier League season.

Jeremy Jacquet enjoys a memorable Liverpool debut

For Jeremy Jacquet, the evening represented the beginning of a new chapter after months of anticipation.

Liverpool agreed a £60m deal for the France Under-21 international in January, but his arrival was only officially completed at the beginning of July. Supporters were then forced to wait longer to see their new defender after a knee problem kept him out of the early stages of pre-season.

When his opportunity finally arrived against Como, Jacquet made the most of it.

Starting alongside Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk for the first time, the young centre-back looked comfortable from the opening stages. He played with confidence, dealt well with defensive situations and demonstrated excellent timing when making important last-ditch challenges.

For a player making his Liverpool debut after missing part of pre-season, Jacquet showed little sign of nervousness. Instead, he appeared composed in possession and willing to engage physically when required.

Then came the moment that made his first appearance truly unforgettable.

In the 44th minute, Gakpo delivered the ball into the area and Jacquet was perfectly positioned to finish from close range, scoring his first Liverpool goal and putting the Reds 2-0 ahead.

A centre-back scoring on his Liverpool debut at Anfield was always going to capture the imagination of the home crowd, but Jacquet’s overall performance gave Iraola far more to be pleased about than the goal alone.

Jeremy Jacquet offers Liverpool a defensive boost

The arrival of Jeremy Jacquet could not have come at a more important time for Liverpool.

Before facing Como, the Reds had suffered defensive setbacks during pre-season, conceding seven goals across defeats to Leeds United and Monaco. Those performances raised concerns about the team’s ability to maintain defensive stability ahead of the Premier League campaign.

Against Como, however, Liverpool looked much more secure.

Jacquet’s presence alongside Van Dijk gave the back line an important sense of balance, while his willingness to make challenges and recover quickly helped the Reds limit the Italian side’s attacking opportunities.

The clean sheet will therefore have been particularly welcome.

Liverpool invested heavily to bring Jacquet to Anfield, and while one performance cannot determine how his long-term career will unfold, his Liverpool debut offered encouraging evidence of why the club were prepared to pay £60m for his services.

His ability to defend aggressively without appearing reckless was especially noticeable. Several confident interventions prevented Como from developing dangerous situations, while his comfort alongside a player of Van Dijk’s experience suggested he could adapt quickly to Liverpool’s defensive structure.

Jacquet was replaced at half-time by another debutant, Ronald Araujo, but he had already done enough to make a strong impression.

Gakpo and Frimpong combine as Liverpool take control

Although Jeremy Jacquet’s goal was the major story of the evening, Liverpool’s first goal was also an encouraging example of the attacking quality within the side.

Frimpong played an important role in creating the breakthrough, producing good work before Gakpo finished impressively in the 23rd minute.

The goal settled Liverpool after an even opening period and gave them greater control of the contest. Gakpo then turned provider for Jacquet shortly before half-time, completing an influential opening 45 minutes.

His cross found the French defender in space, and Jacquet had the simplest of tasks as he converted from close range.

Liverpool went into the interval with a deserved two-goal advantage, having produced the stronger performance and, crucially, kept Como from making serious progress in front of goal.

The second half was less eventful, with the intensity dropping after several changes.

Ryan Gravenberch came closest to adding a third when he clipped the top of the crossbar following impressive work from Victor Munoz. However, Liverpool were unable to extend their advantage.

That mattered little in the end. The result had already been secured, and the clean sheet provided the strongest possible response to the defensive concerns that emerged during earlier pre-season defeats.

Liverpool debut gives Jacquet the perfect start

A goal will naturally dominate the headlines, but Jeremy Jacquet’s Liverpool debut was impressive because of the complete nature of his performance.

He had to wait for his chance because of the knee injury that interrupted his pre-season preparations, yet he showed enough composure to suggest that the delay has not affected his confidence.

Playing beside Van Dijk also gave him an opportunity to experience the demands of Liverpool’s defensive system alongside one of the game’s most experienced centre-backs.

The France Under-21 international will face far more difficult tests during the season, particularly when Liverpool begin their Premier League campaign, but his first appearance offered a promising foundation.

Iraola will now have another defensive option available after the concerns caused by the team’s recent results against Leeds and Monaco.

Liverpool’s need for greater defensive consistency was clear, and Jacquet’s performance suggested that he could become an important part of the solution.

Liverpool turn attention to Newcastle and the Premier League

With pre-season now complete, Liverpool have a week to prepare for the start of their Premier League campaign.

The Reds face a difficult opening fixture away to Newcastle United at St James’ Park next Sunday, where Iraola’s side will look to carry the confidence gained from their victory over Como into competitive action.

The match against Como may have been only a friendly, but it delivered several positives. Gakpo was sharp, Frimpong created the opening goal, Liverpool kept a clean sheet and, most memorably, Jeremy Jacquet enjoyed a dream Liverpool debut.

After waiting weeks for his first opportunity, the 21-year-old could hardly have asked for a better introduction.

A composed defensive performance, a clean sheet and a goal at Anfield ensured that Jacquet’s first night in a Liverpool shirt will be remembered.

The real challenge begins now, but Jeremy Jacquet has given Liverpool supporters an exciting first glimpse of what could lie ahead.