Liverpool’s centre-back options for the new season are starting to become clearer.
Andoni Iraola looks set to have five senior options to choose from:
🇳🇱 Virgil van Dijk
🏴 Joe Gomez
🇫🇷 Jérémy Jacquet
🇮🇹 Giovanni Leoni
🇺🇾 Ronald Araújo
On paper, there is certainly plenty of talent.
But the question Liverpool supporters will be asking is much bigger:
Is this group good enough to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League and Champions League?
I’m not completely convinced.
Virgil van Dijk — the leader
At 35, Van Dijk remains the obvious leader of the defence.
His experience, positioning and ability to organise those around him are going to be incredibly important, particularly with Iraola asking Liverpool to play an aggressive style.
But Liverpool cannot expect Van Dijk to play every game forever.
He is approaching the final year of his current contract, and the club will eventually have to replace one of the greatest defenders in its history.
For this season, though, Van Dijk remains essential.
Joe Gomez — quality but availability concerns
When fit, Gomez is an excellent defender.
His versatility is another huge advantage because he can play across the defensive line.
The problem is that Liverpool have struggled to keep him consistently available.
If Gomez can stay fit, he could become extremely important to Iraola.
But relying on that happening is a risk.
Liverpool need their senior defenders available during the biggest games of the season, and Gomez’s injury history makes that difficult to guarantee.
Jérémy Jacquet — the exciting newcomer
Jacquet is perhaps the most intriguing of the younger options.
He represents the sort of signing Liverpool should be making: a talented young centre-back with plenty of potential who can develop alongside more experienced players.
But there is a difference between potential and proven quality.
If Liverpool are genuinely challenging for major honours, Iraola cannot expect Jacquet to immediately become a defensive leader.
He needs time.
The hope is that playing alongside Van Dijk and Gomez accelerates his development.
Giovanni Leoni — one for the future?
Leoni is another exciting young defender.
There is clearly a lot of belief in his potential, but once again, Liverpool supporters need to be realistic.
Young centre-backs make mistakes.
That’s part of development.
If Leoni is given opportunities this season, Liverpool will have to accept that there could be some inconsistency.
But if Iraola can gradually introduce him into the first team, Liverpool could have a very exciting defender developing for the future.
Ronald Araújo — the wildcard
Then there is Araújo.
The Uruguayan is arguably the biggest wildcard in the group.
He has the physical attributes to become an excellent defender and has experience playing at the highest level.
His loan move gives Liverpool an opportunity to assess him without immediately committing to a permanent transfer.
That could prove to be a very smart decision.
If Araújo stays fit, cuts out the mistakes and adapts to Iraola’s demands, he could become a hugely important player.
But there are still question marks surrounding his consistency and injury record.
Liverpool need those questions answered quickly.
Is the group enough?
This is where I struggle.
Van Dijk gives you experience.
Gomez gives you versatility.
Jacquet gives you potential.
Leoni gives you another exciting young option.
Araújo gives you physicality and experience at the highest level.
There is a lot to like.
But there are also a lot of “ifs”.
What happens if Van Dijk misses a month?
What happens if Gomez suffers another injury?
What happens if Araújo struggles to stay fit?
Can Jacquet and Leoni handle the pressure of Champions League football?
Those are questions Liverpool supporters shouldn’t ignore.
The biggest concern is experience
Liverpool’s young defenders could eventually become excellent.
But if the club wants to challenge Manchester City, Arsenal and Europe’s elite immediately, they need defenders who can perform consistently under pressure.
You cannot have too many question marks at centre-back.
Especially when Iraola’s football is likely to leave the defensive line exposed at times.
Liverpool’s centre-backs will need pace, concentration and the ability to defend one-on-one in large spaces.
Good enough to compete — but perhaps not enough to feel comfortable
I think this group is good enough to compete.
But is it good enough to make me completely confident that Liverpool can win the Premier League and Champions League?
Not yet.
There is enormous potential here, and if everything goes right, Liverpool could have a very strong centre-back group.
But if injuries strike or the younger players aren’t ready for the demands placed upon them, the lack of experience could become a major problem.
That is the gamble Iraola and Liverpool are taking.
The ingredients are there.
Now they have to prove they are enough.
Van Dijk, Gomez, Jacquet, Leoni and Araújo.
Five centre-backs.
Plenty of talent.
Plenty of potential.
But only one way to find out whether they are good enough — when the real games begin.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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