Long-term Liverpool absentee likely to partner Van Dijk against Newcastle United | OneFootball

Liverpool Defensive Crisis Grows as Endo and Jacquet Fitness Concerns Mount

Liverpool’s defensive situation has emerged as one of the most urgent talking points of the summer, with Anfield Index framing the issue in stark terms during a detailed discussion between Dave Davis and Trev Downey. Across the conversation, the central themes were clear, Liverpool’s back line is under pressure, the available options are thin, and concerns around Endo and Jacquet are becoming impossible to ignore.

Trev set the tone early, describing the subject as “one of the most pressing topics at the moment for Liverpool fans is the defence”, before adding, “At the moment, it’s not that encouraging.” Dave agreed, while stressing there remains time in the market, saying, “There’s still time in the window. There’s still time until the 1st of September, 11 p.m. for that window slam short. But there’s still a lot to do.”

That combination of urgency and uncertainty runs through every position discussed, but nowhere more sharply than at centre-back, where Jacquet’s condition and Endo’s lack of football were scrutinised in detail.

Jacquet Situation Raises Serious Questions

Much of the concern centres on whether Jacquet can realistically be expected to step in soon. Trev said, “I thought that’s what Jacquet was going to be,” when discussing succession planning around Virgil van Dijk, but the reality now looks far more complicated.

Dave delivered the key detail, “8th of February this year, the last time Jeremy Jacquet played a game.” He continued, “by the time Newcastle comes around, it’s not far off, seven months, and we’re supposed to believe this kid, and this is not a knock on this kid at all, but we’re supposed to believe this kid is going to be a regular.”

Endo Option Looks Far From Straightforward

If supporters are looking for internal solutions, Endo has naturally come up in discussion as a possible emergency fix. Dave addressed that directly and did so with another important date.

“Do you remember the 11th of February this year at all?” he asked. “It was also the time that Waturo Endo got the serious ankle injury. He has not played since the 11th of February.”

That, in itself, changes the picture entirely. Dave went on, “Iraola even said on Friday just gone, ‘We hope to have him in training and he might get some minutes against Monaco, which is this Sunday.’ So all of a sudden, are we seriously saying a player that’s not played since the 11th of February, who’s set to get his first rehab minutes against Monaco at Sunday, is a serious contender to start at centre-back against Newcastle.”

His verdict was emphatic, “any option that you could consider with the current squad putting alongside Virgil at Newcastle away has been out of football for around six months minimum.”

That is the key point. Endo may be mentioned as a solution, but in the discussion itself the view was clear, he is only being talked about in those terms because the squad picture has become so strained.

Van Dijk Burden Tells Story of Liverpool Depth

Running through the discussion was the uncomfortable truth that too much may rest on Virgil van Dijk. Trev said, “we know that Virgil is going to be the one solid citizen that we can rely on,” but also warned of the risk in going into the season with that level of dependence.

Dave put it even more sharply: “how much now rests on a 35 year old’s shoulders? Seriously.” He later added, “Save us, Virgil Van Djk. Please save us because you’re the only fit center half.”

That is the line that probably says most about Liverpool’s current position. The concerns are not about personality or quality, as Dave put it, “You’ve got massive questions about three of them. Not personalities, but fitness.”

There was some room left for movement before the close of the market. Dave said, “I do think another defender will come through the door before the 1st of September.” He also stressed, “The quicker the better.” Yet Trev’s final conclusion reflected the frustration many supporters will share, “it’s not good enough.”

For now, the most important takeaway from the Anfield Index discussion is simple. Liverpool’s defensive planning remains under intense scrutiny, Endo is coming back from a long absence, Jacquet is dealing with discomfort after months out, and the burden on the existing senior defenders looks extremely heavy. As Trev put it, “It doesn’t make any sense.”

Until fresh defensive reinforcements arrive, that sense of unease is unlikely to fade.

Source: Anfield Index