Jérémy Jacquet earns praise after Liverpool's narrow win at Bournemouth

Andoni Iraola came away from Bournemouth vs Liverpool with a clear message on Jérémy Jacquet: the 21-year-old had taken another step. The defender had just come through Liverpool's 1-0 win at the Vitality Stadium, and Iraola linked that performance to Jacquet's maiden senior call-up to the French national team.

Jacquet's step forward

Iraola said Jacquet had been finishing matches with cramps and looking really tired earlier in the season, which meant this one mattered for more than the result. Against Bournemouth, he completed the full 90 minutes, made 2 tackles and finished with a 7.51 rating, the highest of Liverpool's defenders on the night.

He also completed 58 passes, which fits the shape of the performance Liverpool wanted from him. This was not a game where he only had to clear danger and hope for the best. He had to stay involved, stay switched on and keep going late on, and he did.

Iraola's praise was straightforward. He said, "I'm happy for him because he's also received his first international call-up" and added, "He's still very young, he is adapting really well to the Premier League." After the early fitness issues, this was the kind of outing that makes the France selection feel like part of the same story.

Liverpool's tight win and clean-sheet run

Liverpool did not need a big attacking night to take the points. Alexander Isak scored the only goal shortly before the hour, and Liverpool made it three straight league clean sheets.

That run has come while Iraola has been talking up progress since the opening games. He said, "I think overall we've improved, definitely since the first games," and Bournemouth were left with three points from five league games as their winless start continued.

Rose's side had a role in making the contest uncomfortable, but Liverpool handled the pressure better and left with the cleaner sheet and the better talking point. Jacquet's display will matter most to Iraola, though, because it offered evidence that the physical side of the move is settling down. The next league outing will tell whether this was a one-off or the start of a more settled run for him.