It's official, Liverpool signed a future best in the world | OneFootball

It's official, Liverpool signed a future best in the world | OneFootball

In partnership with

Yahoo sports
Icon: Anfield Watch

Anfield Watch

·12 September 2026

It's official, Liverpool signed a future best in the world

Article image:It's official, Liverpool signed a future best in the world

Liverpool have pulled off a masterstroke.

Well, it's not quite the start the Reds were hoping for under Andoni Iraola. Liverpool are not losing games, unlike they were under Arne Slot.


OneFootball Videos


However, they are not winning games either.

That's the third draw in four games under the Spaniard in the Premier League, which leaves Liverpool with six points.

It's a marker of Iraola's recent form that he has been now unbeaten in 22 matches, and has won just nine of those games.

Things will become better, and of course things could be worse. But things also need to change. Iraola needs to get things right in order to get this team going.

He also needs to find the right balance in his team and the right personnel.

Liverpool's struggles in the middle of the park

The truth is that the game against Fulham really exposed Liverpool's failures.

This was a disjointed side with players who just don't quite fit together. Florian Wirtz was forced to do a lot of the running, covering the most distances (12.4km) on the pitch.

Elsewhere, the midfield pivot of Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch just didn't work.

Liverpool's duo won just two out of their 10 contested ground duels. Szoboszlai won zero of his six ground duels.

That is simply not good enough and Liverpool are going to have to find a solution. With Trey Nyoni and Alexis Mac Allister sitting on the bench there are players Iraola could turn to.

There's also of course Lamine Camara, should the Reds with to enter the transfer market in January.

Liverpool have signed a future best in the world

There is at least some good news. Against Fulham Jeremy Jacquet once again proved what a brilliant signing he has been.

When Liverpool signed him perhaps nobody would have thought that this is someone who could become a future best in the world in his position.

But after these games. The way he has settled in. How easily he wins his duels, it's hard to argue against it. He's so composed when defending and so strong on the ball.

Against Fulham, he was the best player on the pitch completing the most passes (76) and winning the most duels (9). Most importantly though he saved Liverpool at times, making important interventions and even a block on the line.

That was a phenomenal performance and yet more proof that Jacquet is heading towards becoming the best centre-back on the planet. He's probably already very close.

View publisher imprint