Jacquet still missing from training as Iraola runs short at centre-back

Jeremy Jacquet has not played a single minute of pre-season and has still not rejoined full training, with Sunday's friendly against Monaco at Anfield now only days away and the Premier League opener a little over a fortnight out.

Liverpool completed the roughly $74m signing of the defender from Rennes on 1 July. Since then he has been working individually rather than with the group, and the wait is beginning to shape Andoni Iraola's selection problems rather than simply sit in the background.

Three centre-backs unavailable

Jacquet is one of three centre-backs currently out. Joe Gomez picked up an injury in the opening game of the United States tour, and Giovani Leoni remains sidelined. That leaves Virgil van Dijk and Ifeanyi Ndukwe as the only fit senior options in the position.

Mor Talla Ndiaye has rejoined the under-21s after the American trip, Luke Chambers is a left-back by trade, and Wataru Endo can be pushed back as a makeshift solution. None of that is a plan for a title campaign.

Iraola: 'We have to be careful'

Jacquet missed the second half of last season after shoulder surgery, began pre-season training early, then suffered a setback. Iraola has been deliberately cautious in public.

“He did the first part of the pre-season, let's say, very well. Now he's feeling some discomfort, so we don't want to rush him. He comes from a lot of months without playing.”

“Obviously I would like to try with him with Virgil when he recovers, because with the injury of Joe we've been without senior centre-backs. But we have to be careful with Jeremy, yes.”

The decision to send Ndiaye back to the youth setup could hint that Jacquet is edging closer, though the club have issued no formal update. With friendlies against Monaco and Como still to come at Anfield, he remains a doubt for both.