Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has praised new signings Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo after their pre-season debuts. The Brazilian made his comments following a 2-0 friendly win over Como at Anfield on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
Alisson highlighted the immediate impact of the defensive reinforcements. "Both of them played really, really well," he told reporters. "Jeremy had a great first half, great on the ball, great defending and controlling the space." Jacquet, a £60 million signing from Rennes, scored Liverpool's second goal after Cody Gakpo opened the scoring. Araujo joined on loan from Barcelona and helped secure a clean sheet in his 45-minute appearance.
Alisson directly linked the new defensive depth to the club's objectives for the campaign. He stated that having strong options at centre-back is essential for a trophy challenge. "That's what we need if we want to compete for trophies this season," the goalkeeper said. "That's the mentality of Liverpool players." He also expressed confidence that playing alongside captain Virgil van Dijk would benefit the newcomers. Despite a disappointing previous season and the arrival of new manager Andoni Iraola, Alisson believes the squad has the capability to challenge for honours.
Liverpool's pre-season had included defeats to Leeds United and Monaco where they surrendered two-goal leads, making the clean sheet against Como more significant. Alisson acknowledged the importance of the result for building confidence ahead of the Premier League opener at Newcastle United next Sunday. "Tonight was good for us to get a little bit of confidence," he admitted. "We know how important it is to get a win with a clean sheet as well."
Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo are now expected to compete for the starting role alongside Virgil van Dijk. Their arrivals address a key area for Liverpool, who have been actively strengthening their defensive options. The club's current squad depth can be explored on our squad page. Jacquet's performance, which included a goal on his debut, and Araujo's solid second-half showing provide manager Andoni Iraola with immediate and tangible options. Alisson emphasized the collective effort required. "We are going to need all the players," he said. "All the boys did well, the back four did really well, the players in midfield run a lot and fight a lot to get the results."
Alisson struck a balanced tone of optimism and realism when discussing the campaign ahead. "I am really excited and looking forward, but (with) feet on the ground," he explained. "We dream big but we work hard. That's the thing we have to do." He identified consistency as the primary area for improvement, noting the team does not yet have it for a full 90 minutes. The goalkeeper believes winning while still developing is a positive foundation. "The best thing is winning with the space for improvement and we need to go with that mentality for the first game against Newcastle," Alisson concluded.
The focus now shifts to the trip to St. James' Park for the first Premier League match of the Andoni Iraola era. The integration of Jacquet and Araujo provides a timely boost to Liverpool's defensive unit as they aim to start the competitive season strongly. Fans can track the team's progress and league position on our standings page throughout the campaign.
