Liverpool rounded out their busy pre-season schedule with an impressive 2-0 victory over Serie A side Como at Anfield yesterday evening.
The win will no doubt have pleased new boss Andoni Iraola, who will certainly have a rough idea of his starting eleven ahead of next weekend’s Premier League opener.
The Spaniard will still want added reinforcements before the summer transfer window closes, but he undoubtedly has a talented first eleven at his disposal.
Numerous players staked their claim for a regular starting role after their displays last night, with one player in particular reigniting his once flailing career on Merseyside.
Liverpool’s star performers against Como
Winger Cody Gakpo appeared to be edging closer to a departure from Liverpool last week, but manager Iraola may now want to keep the forward after his display yesterday.
The Dutchman featured for 73 minutes of the triumph over the Italian side and managed to get himself on the scoresheet with a clever finish from Jeremie Frimpong’s cross.
He also managed to add an assist before the first-half interval, with the 27-year-old forward certainly playing with the bit between his teeth and with a point to prove.
Gakpo’s quality performance was further evident when running at the opposition, as he produced various moments of magic and glided past Cesc Fàbregas’ backline.
As previously mentioned, full-back Frimpong enjoyed a positive display throughout the win last night, with Gakpo’s compatriot also managing to catch the eye.
Along with his assist for the forward, he was often seen making marauding runs into attacking areas and often delivering pinpoint crosses into the opposition box.
His talent has been evident during recent months at Anfield, but the biggest challenge for Iraola in the near future will be making sure the 25-year-old can stay injury-free throughout 2026/27.
How Iraola has already found his next Kroupi at Liverpool
The main transfer talking point at Liverpool throughout the summer window has been the potential arrival of Bradley Barcola from French giants PSG.
Personal terms don’t appear to be an issue with the 23-year-old attacker, but the biggest stumbling block at present appears to be the valuation between the two clubs.
|
Bradley Barcola – goals by season in his career |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Games |
Goals |
|
2021/22 |
13 |
0 |
|
2022/23 |
31 |
7 |
|
2023/24 |
42 |
5 |
|
2024/25 |
58 |
21 |
|
2025/26 |
55 |
13 |
Any deal would likely cost Iraola’s men in excess of £100m this summer, which could see the youngster become the manager’s next Eli Kroupi Junior on Merseyside.
The Bournemouth star endured a superb first year in the Premier League under the Spaniard’s guidance, with Barcola hoping to enjoy similar success upon any transfer.
However, after the clash with Como yesterday, it appears as though the manager has found his next version of the Cherries star with centre-back Jeremy Jacquet.
Whilst the £60m addition operates in a different position to that of Kroupi, he is set to emulate the attacker in hoping to star in his first season in English football.
Yesterday’s clash was the first time the Reds faithful were able to witness the 21-year-old first-hand – and it’s safe to say he made a remarkable first impression.
The centre-back only featured for the first 45 minutes of the encounter, but it was enough for the youngster to make an immediate positive impact at Anfield.
Jacquet managed to make a staggering six tackles and won 100% of his aerial battles – subsequently demonstrating his sensational ability without the ball.
However, with the ball, the Frenchman managed to catch the eye, subsequently completing 45 out of his 47 passes, whilst even managing to get himself on the scoresheet.
The youngster found himself unmarked in the middle of the 18-yard box and tapped home after an excellent ball across the area from the impressive Gakpo.
After such a display, journalist Bence Bocsak was quick to heap praise on the defender and labelled his showing against the Italian side as “phenomenal.”
It’s certainly early days in his career at Anfield, but such a showing has excited the Reds faithful and rightly so, with Jacquet set for a huge career at Liverpool.
Should he reach the levels of Kroupi during his debut year working under Iraola, then there’s little denying that the Reds will have an elite-level talent on their hands.
