Liverpool have omitted new signing Jeremy Jacquet from their pre-season opener against Sunderland in Nashville, a precaution while the 21-year-old continues rehabilitation from a serious shoulder injury. The decision delays an early look at the £60m recruit and forces Andoni Iraola to reshuffle centre-back options as the Reds begin their US tour.
Jacquet left out of Nashville squad as club errs on caution
Liverpool have excluded Jeremy Jacquet from the squad for the pre-season friendly against Sunderland in Nashville, prioritising his long-term fitness after a shoulder injury in February.
The 21-year-old’s move from Rennes was completed for around £60m, but the club has chosen to manage his return carefully rather than accelerate his integration during the opening tour match.
Where Jacquet is in his recovery
Jacquet has progressed through rehabilitation and is back training individually on grass, with medical permission to resume group work when ready. The club’s decision to withhold him from the opening fixture is precautionary — a sensible approach given the nature of shoulder injuries and the need to protect a major signing from early setbacks.
Immediate squad and lineup implications
Andoni Iraola’s selection for the Nashville game reflects a mix of youth and fringe senior players while several World Cup participants are still absent. Giorgi Mamardashvili starts in goal, with Jeremie Frimpong, Mor Talla Ndiaye, Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas forming the back line.
Midfield options include James McConnell, Curtis Jones and Kieran Morrison, and the attack features Harvey Elliott, Will Wright and Rio Ngumoha. Jacquet’s absence hands a clearer runway to other centre-back pairings in the short term.
What this means for Liverpool’s defensive planning
Holding Jacquet back now is a risk-management choice that preserves his availability for tougher tests later in pre-season and the Premier League. For a side rebuilding under Iraola, the sooner Jacquet reaches full fitness the better — his profile fits the profile of a long-term partner to Virgil van Dijk. But the delay also gives the manager an immediate chance to assess alternative centre-back solutions and chemistry without rushing a high-value recruit into competitive minutes.
Context: transfers, World Cup absences and the US tour
Jacquet joined following a loan spell at Rennes and trained at the AXA Training Centre before travelling to the United States.
He is the only new arrival on this part of the tour, with Victor Muñoz and other World Cup players given extended rest.
Key names such as Virgil van Dijk, Alisson and Cody Gakpo are expected back after the US leg, while Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch could feature in upcoming friendlies against Wrexham and Leeds.
Looking ahead: timing and expectations
The smart money for Liverpool is a phased return to full group involvement for Jacquet over the coming weeks rather than an immediate sprint back for a single friendly. If his rehab continues smoothly, he should be available for the subsequent tour matches or the final stages of pre-season, allowing Iraola to test defensive partnerships before competitive fixtures begin.
Federico Chiesa poised to leave Liverpool as Iraola reshapes the attack
For now, the omission is a minor hiccup — prudent, and perhaps the right call for a player the Reds will rely on long term.
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