David Lynch heaps praise on ‘absolutely fabulous’ Liverpool star | OneFootball

Jeremy Jacquet Emerges as Liverpool’s Major Positive Under Andoni Iraola

Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Fulham offered precious little to celebrate, but Jeremy Jacquet provided another compelling reason for optimism.

While Andoni Iraola’s side struggled for intensity and control at Anfield, the 21-year-old defender continued an impressive start to his Liverpool career. Speaking to David Lynch on Anfield Index’s Media Matters podcast, Dave Davis described Jacquet as the “one real shining light” from a frustrating afternoon.

The numbers supported that assessment.

Davis highlighted three wins from four ground duels, five successful aerial duels from five, two clearances, five recoveries and a clearance off the line.

His conclusion was simple.

“He looks a proper star, this kid.”

David Lynch was equally enthusiastic.

“He’s unbelievable,” Lynch said.

Jacquet Looks Ready for Premier League

Perhaps the most striking aspect of Jacquet’s emergence has been how little adaptation time he appears to have required.

Liverpool signed a young defender arriving from Ligue 1, and Lynch admitted there had initially been reasonable questions over how quickly he could become a regular.

“We were talking before the season, I know I’d certainly said, you know, one of the reasons we’d have liked to get some experience in, which they do with Araujo, to be fair,” Lynch explained.

Part of that concern centred on whether Jacquet could cope with a significant workload immediately.

“Jacquet can’t play every game and surely he’s going to have to be dipped in and out as a kid.”

His performances are rapidly challenging that assumption.

“You look at him already and he’s 21 years old putting in performances like that. It’s unbelievable, really.”

Van Dijk Trust Highlights Jacquet Quality

Jacquet’s defensive numbers were impressive against Fulham, but his contribution in possession caught Lynch’s attention as well.

Liverpool’s struggles progressing through midfield placed greater responsibility on the centre-backs to move the ball forward.

Jacquet repeatedly accepted that responsibility.

“It’s telling to me, by the way, the amount of times Van Dijk seemed to kind of defer to him in possession,” Lynch said.

That is significant company.

Virgil van Dijk has long been one of Liverpool’s principal distributors from defence, yet Lynch felt the captain was comfortable allowing Jacquet to dictate possession.

“We know how unbelievable Van Dijk is on the ball. I think he thinks, you know, Jacquet is up there with him and is just as capable because he kept giving him the ball to be the passer and to be the one who progressed Liverpool.”

The execution largely justified that trust.

“Nine times out of ten, he would.”

Aerial Strength Answers Major Liverpool Question

One statistic particularly pleased Lynch.

Jacquet won all five of his aerial duels against Fulham, continuing a strength that had already been evident before he joined Liverpool.

“The most encouraging statistic I think I saw from him there is five out of five aerial duels,” Lynch explained.

That quality has particular importance in Iraola’s football.

“He had a high aerial duel win rate in Ligue 1 and I pointed that out as something that Liverpool like in a pressing team. They like their centre-halves to be able to win aerial duels.”

The question was whether those numbers would translate into English football.

“Can he translate that to the Premier League?”

Fulham provided a significant test.

“Fulham are not a small side. They have some big lads up top and to be able to win five out of five aerial duels there just sort of tells you the degree with which he has kind of taken to this league like a duck to water.”

Photo: IMAGO

Liverpool May Have Found Long Term Defensive Star

Lynch’s assessment of Jacquet’s ceiling was perhaps the strongest praise of all.

There are obvious caveats around any young player’s development, particularly fitness and maintaining performance levels over a prolonged period. Even so, Lynch believes Liverpool could have an exceptional defender on their hands.

“I think we’re looking at a player that, you know, touch wood, fitness permitting, all those kind of hoops you have to jump through and luck is a part of it, but he just looks like he’s going to be world class.”

Those are substantial words for a player still at the beginning of his Liverpool career.

Jacquet has already established himself alongside Van Dijk and, according to Lynch, his performances have changed expectations surrounding Liverpool’s defensive options.

“I think he’s absolutely fabulous and one of the real positives of the season so far.”

After an afternoon dominated by questions about Liverpool’s midfield, intensity and development under Iraola, Jacquet provided something far more straightforward.

“What a fantastic signing he’s been,” Lynch concluded.

On the evidence Liverpool have seen so far, it is becoming increasingly difficult to disagree.