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Liverpool could enter preseason with Jérémy Jacquet and Geovanni Leoni as the only senior center backs at Arne Slot's disposal—encouraging in one respect given both players are nearing the end of lengthy injury recoveries, yet it also underscores a worrying shortage of depth at a vital position.
Jacquet sustained a serious shoulder injury within a week of completing a pre-agreed move to Liverpool in February valued at up to $80.4 million (£60 million) and has not featured since. The Athletic reports that the 20-year-old Frenchman is expected to be fit for Liverpool's preseason program, which is scheduled to begin in early July, and that his post-surgery rehabilitation has progressed well.
Leoni is also anticipated to be present from day one of preseason. The 19-year-old Italian, a somewhat unexpected acquisition last summer as Liverpool splashed over $600 million on new signings, suffered an ACL injury on his debut back in September. Fortunately for both player and club, initial projections of a year-long absence have since been revised downward.
However, Slot may have little else to work with when preseason gets underway. Liverpool will begin training at home before facing Sunderland in Nashville on July 25, then Wrexham in New York four days later, and Leeds United in Chicago on Aug. 2. The Premier League season kicks off on Aug. 22.
Virgil van Dijk will be occupied at the World Cup with the Netherlands until at least early July and is not expected back at Liverpool until the end of that month at the earliest. Ibrahima Konaté will also be at the tournament—if the Frenchman returns to the club at all, having reached the end of the season without a new contract agreement and with no indication that one is forthcoming.
There is further uncertainty surrounding Joe Gomez, Liverpool's longest-serving player, who may seek a summer move in order to secure more regular playing time at this point in his career—he turns 30 next May. "I don't know is the honest answer. I've only got a year left, so I don't know," he said recently.
Liverpool's Defensive Overhaul Accelerated
Liverpool managed nearly the entirety of 2025–26 with Gomez as the sole backup to Van Dijk and Konaté.
Should Gomez and Konaté stay, the arrival of Jacquet and the recovery of Leoni could hand the Reds five center-back options heading into 2026–27. However, it is equally plausible that Jacquet and Leoni are joined only by Van Dijk with no other returning players, making it essential that Liverpool enter the transfer market for at least one—possibly two—new additions.
The fact that the upcoming season will almost certainly be Van Dijk's final one at the club makes addressing this need all the more pressing.
It seems premature for Liverpool to rely entirely on a starting center-back partnership with a combined age of 39 and just 54 career top-flight league appearances between them.
Defensive frailties cost Liverpool dearly in 2025–26. The Reds conceded 53 goals—the most the club has ever let in across a 38-game Premier League season—which significantly undermined the efforts of an attack that ranked as the fourth most prolific in the entire division. Only seven clubs were breached more frequently than Slot's side.
Andy Robertson is set to be officially released next month, and goalkeeper succession may also be on the agenda. Speculation surrounding Alisson's potential departure from Anfield—possibly to join Juventus in Serie A—has intensified in recent weeks, leaving Liverpool to determine whether to back Giorgi Mamardashvili or explore other options. Mamardashvili was always earmarked as the long-term replacement, but the Georgia international endured a difficult debut season that did little to inspire confidence among supporters regarding his future role.