Jeremy Jacquet Sends Liverpool Into Injury Panic Ahead of Massive Man City Showdown

Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first call promising.

Jérémy Jacquet was on top of the world this autumn. Having made an impressive beginning to his Liverpool career, the newly-minted France international quickly caught the eye of Zinédine Zidane. After watching from the sidelines against Türkiye, the 21-year-old featured for the full duration against Belgium and Italy in two displays his esteemed international manager described as "very good" on four separate occasions in a single sentence. As is so often the case, fortune's wheel soon turned against him.

Jacquet had been tipped to feature in France's starting lineup for Monday's encounter with Belgium but didn't even make the squad. The national team confirmed a muscular complaint for Liverpool's first-choice center back just days before the highly anticipated Premier League showdown against table-topping Manchester City on Sunday.

If that match wasn't already tense enough with the storm surrounding City's guilty verdict brewing ominously in the background, Andoni Iraola may have to navigate that challenge without his preferred defensive partner for Virgil van Dijk.

What Injury Does Jeremy Jacquet Have?

The brief statement released by the French football federation described Jacquet's issue as a "strain to his left hamstring." Zidane was more understated when addressing his center back's unavailability, dismissing it simply as "a knock."

Jacquet's young career has been touched by thankfully minor muscular setbacks. The former Rennes dynamo has only ever dealt with a calf complaint during his senior career, missing just two matches in the middle of 2025 due to a minor problem.

The more significant concern for Jacquet had been a serious shoulder injury that brought an early end to his time at Rennes. Shortly after agreeing a pre-contract with Liverpool, the youngster required surgery on the issue, which sidelined him for four months.

Mindful of not overworking a player who had been short of match fitness, Iraola had been careful to introduce him gradually into Liverpool's intense system. "In the first games, he was feeling the change of rhythm physically. He was finishing with cramps and really tired so we had to sub him," the Reds manager explained last month.

Liverpool's recent victory over Bournemouth was described as "a step forward" for Jacquet by Iraola. "He looked solid until the end and I think he's finished physically also in a good place."

Regrettably, he now appears to have taken a step in the wrong direction.

When Will Jeremy Jacquet Return for Liverpool?

Jérémy Jacquet has arrived. pic.twitter.com/XN55tb5Rxy

Given the limited information available regarding Jacquet's condition, it is hard to assess the true extent of his injury. Recovery from a hamstring strain can range anywhere from three days to three months. The fact that Jacquet completed both of his international appearances during the break suggests his omission on Monday was precautionary rather than a response to anything serious.

Iraola will certainly be hoping that is the case. The summer signing has started all six of Liverpool's Premier League and Champions League matches this season, building a promising partnership alongside Van Dijk, who has appeared closer to his commanding best with Jacquet beside him.

"So far, it is good," the cautious veteran noted last month. "He is 21 years old and very promising, but it is up to him to keep working hard and staying calm. It's a big credit to him how he started his Liverpool career, but we are in September. Hopefully there are years of his Liverpool career left."

The long-term outlook for Jacquet remains bright, but whether he can bounce back in the near term is still an open question.

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