Iraola Confident: Jacquet Set to Feature in Final Liverpool Friendly — The Last Test Before Season
Andoni Iraola has signalled optimism that Jeremy Jacquet will be available for Liverpool’s final pre‑season friendly against Como, a pragmatic update that removes a small selection cloud heading into the club’s last warm‑up. The comment arrived after light training sessions and a cautious approach to minutes, suggesting whatever issue kept Jacquet out was never serious enough to derail preparations.
This matters because availability in a closing friendly is as much a message as a medical report: managers use these games to close tactical debates and to show faith in particular profiles. Jacquet’s presence will give Liverpool another option in rotation and allow coaching staff to test combinations under low stakes but purposeful conditions.
Como will provide a different kind of opposition to help gauge match sharpness, and Jacquet’s minutes there can be used specifically to probe defensive cohesion and transitional play. Expect Liverpool to stagger his involvement — enough to assess fitness and impact, but not so much as to risk a late setback before competitive fixtures begin.
The Guru’s read is blunt: Jacquet will appear, but not to steal headlines — he will come on to answer tactical questions, not to start the season’s narrative. My recommendation for Liverpool is simple — use the friendly to define roles, then protect the player’s minutes until the opening competitive fixtures clarify where he truly fits.