Liverpool’s summer rebuild brought plenty of excitement at the attacking end of the pitch, but it could be two defensive arrivals who ultimately prove the most important pieces of Andoni Iraola’s new-look side.

Jérémy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo have wasted little time making their presence felt, with Liverpool recording three consecutive Premier League clean sheets since Iraola began deploying the pair together in his back line. Those shutouts have come against Ipswich Town, Fulham and, most recently, Bournemouth. 

Sunday’s 1-0 victory on the south coast was another demonstration of Liverpool’s growing defensive resilience. Alexander Isak grabbed the winner, but behind him Jacquet produced a performance that earned him Liverpool’s official Player of the Match award. 

The numbers behind the 21-year-old’s start are remarkable. Jacquet has started all five of Liverpool’s Premier League matches, playing 417 minutes.

He has won 29 of his 38 duels – 76.3% – while completing 90% of his passes and recording 11 tackles. That duel-success rate matches Virgil van Dijk’s best figure across an entire Premier League campaign for Liverpool, achieved in 2018/19. 

It is early days, of course, but Liverpool appear to have found a defender capable of growing alongside Van Dijk rather than simply learning from him.

Araujo’s impact has been slightly different but equally significant. The Barcelona loanee has appeared in all five league matches, starting three and playing 285 minutes. Most impressively, Liverpool are yet to concede a Premier League goal in a match the Uruguayan has started. Against Bournemouth, he won nine duels, more than anybody else on the pitch. 

And that is where Iraola may have discovered something particularly interesting. Araujo arrived as a centre-back but has increasingly operated from right-back, giving Liverpool a more physical, defensively secure option on that side. Jacquet, meanwhile, offers composure, progression and the confidence to step forward with possession.

Together, they give Liverpool something they desperately lacked when games became stretched last season, control.

Five league games is nowhere near enough to declare Liverpool’s defensive problems solved. But three successive clean sheets, an unbeaten league start and two new defenders already looking completely at home suggest the foundations are finally being rebuilt.

And for a Liverpool side still finding its attacking rhythm, that foundation could prove invaluable. 

Who has been your standout player so far out of the two, and why? Leave your thoughts and comments below.