Liverpool star is on par with Van Dijk based on current level

Liverpool star is on par with Van Dijk based on current level Jeremy Jacquet proving Liverpool right as £55m centre-back settles in alongside Virgil van Dijk Liverpool moved decisively for Jeremy Jacquet in January, and a few months into his Anfield career the early evidence suggests they identified a defender ready for the step up sooner than many expected. According to Sporting Life , the 21-year-old has made an immediate impact since arriving from Rennes, with his performances already helping to reshape the conversation around a transfer that initially drew scrutiny. That scrutiny was understandable at the time. Liverpool committed an initial £55 million for a player who had only a limited body of senior football behind him in France. Chelsea had been working hard on the deal and appeared well placed, with personal terms reportedly advanced, before Liverpool stepped in, met Rennes’ demands and agreed a structure that allowed Jacquet to remain in Ligue 1 for the rest of the campaign. It was a move framed in some quarters as aggressive, expensive and potentially risky. Liverpool had already shown a willingness to spend on proven elite talent, with Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak all arriving with strong track records. Jacquet, by contrast, came with far less first-team exposure, which made the fee a natural talking point around the Premier League. Jacquet transfer fee fading into background That is often the clearest sign a signing is working. When a young defender joins for £55 million, every touch can be examined through the lens of cost. When the fee stops dominating the discussion, it usually means the player has settled quickly and begun to justify the club’s conviction. That appears to be where Jacquet is heading already. Liverpool’s defensive numbers have improved markedly. They have kept clean sheets in half of their matches to this point, and Sporting Life notes they rank among the division’s strongest sides for expected goals against. For a team that managed only 10 clean sheets across the whole of last season, that shift is significant. Clean sheets are rarely the work of one player alone, but centre-backs remain central to any improvement in control, spacing and recovery. Jacquet’s individual data adds weight to the visual impression. He has brought pace, composure and authority. A top speed close to 35km/h points to recovery power over distance, while a league pass completion close to 89% suggests a defender comfortable taking responsibility in possession. The volume of line-breaking passes and long distribution also indicates Liverpool are trusting him to start attacks, not merely finish them. Defensively, the profile is equally encouraging. Winning 70% of ground duels and 74% of aerial contests is strong output for any centre-back, let alone one adapting to a new league, new tactical demands and a new defensive partner. Those numbers help explain why Liverpool have looked more secure, and why the sense of uncertainty around the move has eased so quickly. Virgil van Dijk partnership offering Liverpool control The most striking element of Jacquet’s opening spell has been how naturally he appears to have fitted in alongside Virgil van Dijk. Playing with Liverpool’s captain can sharpen scrutiny because standards are so high, but it can also accelerate development if the chemistry is right. So far, there are signs that this pairing is giving Liverpool a balanced platform. Photo: IMAGO Van Dijk’s assessment after the win over Brighton underlined that point. “He’s a fantastic player and he has got so much more to come. It’s very exciting for Liverpool and it’s down to him to keep working hard, keep learning and keep level-headed. Both of us have to get to know what the other does in certain situations. You get to know each other in so many moments. So far we have been doing pretty well.” That last line may be understated, but it reflects a broader truth. Liverpool did not buy Jacquet as a project for the distant future alone. They believed he could contribute early, and that belief is already being rewarded. Replacing a senior figure in defence always carries pressure, particularly when the price is high and expectations at Anfield are unforgiving. Jacquet has handled that environment with maturity. Liverpool recruitment looks vindicated again The wider context here matters. Recruitment at the top end of the market is often judged in absolutes, especially when a young player is involved. If he starts slowly, the fee becomes the story. If he adapts quickly, the focus turns to the foresight of the club. Liverpool now look much closer to the latter scenario. There will be tougher tests ahead, and it remains early in Jacquet’s Liverpool career. Defenders are often measured over full seasons rather than short bursts, particularly in a league that asks constant physical and mental questions. Yet the opening sample is undeniably promising. The athleticism is there, the technical level is evident, and the partnership with Van Dijk is forming at speed. For Liverpool, that is the key takeaway. They paid heavily for potential, but also for readiness. Right now, Jeremy Jacquet looks like a player capable of justifying both. Our View There is something deeply satisfying about watching a signing silence the noise this quickly. The fee dominated the conversation for a while, and plenty were ready to use it as a stick to beat Liverpool with before Jacquet had even kicked a ball at Anfield. A few months on, that debate already feels tired because the player has answered it in the best possible way, with calm, authority and quality. What stands out most is how complete he looks for his age. The recovery pace is obvious, the duel success is elite, and the passing suggests a defender fully suited to the way Liverpool want to build from the back. Put that next to Van Dijk and you start to see why the club were so decisive. They were not buying hype, they were buying a profile they believed would thrive. The biggest compliment is that Jacquet already feels normal at this level. That is hard to achieve for any young centre-back, never mind one arriving with a huge price tag and immediate expectations. Liverpool have clearly landed on the right player, and if this is the floor of his level then the ceiling is frighteningly high. At £55 million, this could end up looking like one of the smartest pieces of business the club have done in years.