While Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium was the main talking point, it was already a memorable week for Jeremy Jacquet before kick-off.
The young defender received his first call-up to the France senior squad on Friday after being selected by new manager Zinedine Zidane for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Turkey, Belgium and Italy.
It was a well-deserved reward for Jacquet, who has made an impressive start to life at Liverpool following his move from Rennes in a deal that could eventually reach £60 million.
Against Bournemouth, the Frenchman once again showed why expectations surrounding him continue to grow. His performance was another reminder of how quickly he is establishing himself and making Liverpool fans look beyond former centre-back Ibrahima Konate.
One of his standout moments came in the first half when he calmly played the ball between two Bournemouth forwards inside his own penalty area, relieving pressure with confidence and composure.
However, Jacquet’s primary responsibility is defending, and he delivered when Liverpool needed him most. With Bournemouth pushing hard for an equaliser late in the game, his crucial header from a dangerous cross helped Liverpool preserve a third consecutive Premier League clean sheet, something the club had not achieved since the beginning of Arne Slot’s tenure.
Of course, the real test will come when Jacquet makes a mistake, as every centre-back eventually does. But so far, the French defender has gone beyond expectations and continues to impress.
Gakpo Continues to Make the Difference
Liverpool once again lined up with a different combination on the wings as Andoni Iraola continued to rotate his attacking options.
New £123 million signing Bradley Barcola started on his preferred left flank, while Cody Gakpo operated on the right. It was Liverpool’s fifth different wing partnership in just seven games, with Victor Munoz and Rio Ngumoha starting the match among the substitutes.
The first half was far from comfortable for Liverpool, who struggled to find their rhythm and looked disjointed in the final third.
Barcola showed flashes of his quality, with a superb first touch and plenty of pace, but it is clear that the team will need time to bring out the best in him.
In the meantime, Gakpo continues to provide the kind of impact Iraola will appreciate.
Although the Dutchman took some time to get into the game, he eventually produced the moment that mattered most.
Receiving the ball near the touchline, Gakpo moved past Marcus Tavernier before powering beyond Adrien Truffert. He then delivered a dangerous cross that eventually found its way to Alexander Isak, who finished to give Liverpool the lead.
While Gakpo was not credited with a direct assist, his involvement highlighted the strength, determination and attacking purpose that have made him such an important player during the early stages of the Iraola era.
Kerkez Shows His Character
Andoni Iraola was not the only Liverpool figure making a return to Bournemouth.
Milos Kerkez also returned to his former club for the second consecutive season, having endured a difficult reunion last year when an emotional first-half performance resulted in him being substituted at the break.
Bournemouth appeared determined to make things uncomfortable for the Liverpool left-back, with Kerkez receiving plenty of attention during a challenging opening period.
Rather than allowing the pressure to affect him, however, Kerkez stayed focused and responded with a determined second-half performance.
His defensive work and forward runs provided Liverpool with some much-needed relief as Bournemouth increased the pressure and searched for an equaliser.
On the opposite side, Ronald Araujo occasionally looked like a centre-back playing out of position, but his physical presence and defensive strength made him a valuable option in a demanding away fixture.
And whenever Bournemouth managed to break through Liverpool’s defence, they found Alisson Becker standing in their way.
The Brazilian goalkeeper was in outstanding form, with his best moment coming when he produced a smart save to deny Evanilson’s improvised flick.
Despite Giorgi Mamardashvili’s impressive performance in the Carabao Cup, Alisson once again demonstrated why he remains Liverpool’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper.
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