Jeremy Jacquet setback creates alarming scenario for Liverpool’s Premier League opener vs Newcastle

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Liverpool were handed a fresh concern over Jeremy Jacquet on Friday after the Frenchman missed the Reds’ open training session in Chicago.Jacquet is yet to play since arriving from Rennes, initially picking up an injury ahead of the friendly match against Sunderland last weekend.Andoni Iraola had expected Jacquet to be back for Sunday’s clash with Leeds, but as Liverpool trained just two days before the match, the No. Who would be your choice of centre-back signing for Liverpool this summer?

The Reds clearly need to do something after fresh injuries to Jacquet and Gomez Photo Credit: Getty Images/Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC It remains to be seen whether Jacquet has suffered a more serious problem than initially thought, but his failure to report for team training is a setback for Liverpool regardless.And with the first fixture of the Premier League season now only three weeks away, Iraola quite literally has only one senior centre-back to call upon.Virgil van Dijk is Liverpool’s only fit centre-backLiverpool were linked with Fikayo Tomori on Friday, and the AC Milan defender is exactly the kind of profile which the Reds could be looking at in the remainder of the window.They really need to do something, because, as things stand, Virgil van Dijk is the only senior central defender who Iraola could choose to start the game against Newcastle on August 23rd.READ MORE: Bradley Barcola to Liverpool just became much more likely as PSG pick his replacementThe hope seems to be that Jacquet will recover in time to play, but with only two friendlies left after the Leeds game, he will not have featured much, if at all, for Liverpool up to that point. It would be a risk to throw him in at St James’ Park.Giovanni Leoni may return before then, but it seems especially unlikely that the Italian is being considered to play against Newcastle, while Iraola has already ruled out Joe Gomez.That leaves Van Dijk as the only natural senior defender, with even Ifeanyi Ndukwe – the star of pre-season so far – also being ineligible.

There seems little chance that Mor Talla Ndiaye will come in next to Van Dijk, no matter how well he too has played this summer, leaving Iraola with only one choice of partner for his captain: Wataru Endo.Either Endo starts or Liverpool make a new signingAs they have done previously, Liverpool are knowingly going into this season with a shortage at centre-half, and that will be immensely frustrating for supporters.This is arguably the worst the Reds have ever left it, though, and while Endo is definitely an option in defence, the Japanese has not played for Liverpool since February.Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty ImagesUnlike Jacquet, he was back in training on Friday, however, and Endo should get some game time before the trip to Newcastle.As things stand, the 33-year-old is arguably the favourite to start next to Van Dijk, unless Liverpool bring a new signing in over the next week or two.Despite links to Tomori and Ezri Konsa, that currently feels unlikely, and even if a new player does come in, they may not be up to speed in time.Liverpool hopefully have a plan here, but this is a very real problem which needs addressing. Without Jacquet, Gomez and Leoni, the Reds’ defence is absolutely on its last legs.