Monaco's 3-2 friendly win over Liverpool was less important as a result than as a reminder of how thin the squad still looks in a few key areas. Alexander Isak opened the scoring after a little over 15 minutes and Florian Wirtz doubled the lead within half an hour, but the game swung late when 20-year-old Paris Brunner headed in the winner two minutes from time at the near post from a corner.
Jacquet's delayed return
Monaco also sharpened the focus on Jérémy Jacquet, who was left out after late doubt over his shoulder recovery. Andoni Iraola said: "Jeremy, we were in doubt whether to pick him today or not; we decided not. But he should be fine for the next one." That matters because Liverpool were down to only Virgil van Dijk and Ifeanyi Ndukwe as fit specialist centre-backs against Monaco.
Jacquet's deal from Rennes was worth up to £60m, and the expectation around him has shifted from patience to availability. His own view is more about the learning curve, saying of Van Dijk: "Training with him is going to be huge. He's going to teach me so much. Training with guys like that, it doesn't get any better than that."
The wider rebuild around Liverpool
The bigger issue is not just centre-back depth. Liverpool's current wide options are limited to 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, new arrival Victor Munoz and transfer-linked Cody Gakpo, which is why the links to Ronald Araújo, Joe Gomez and Bradley Barcola sit in the same conversation. Barcola is expected to cost upwards of £110m, and his World Cup return of three goals in eight appearances, plus a 7.09 rating, at least explains why he is being treated as more than a speculative name.
The league numbers also sit awkwardly alongside the summer messaging. Liverpool are listed 14th in the 2026 Premier League standings in the curated feed, and their recent sequence of DLDLW is hardly the profile of a settled side. This is still pre-season, so the Monaco result should not be inflated into anything more than a warning, but it is a warning Liverpool can see clearly enough.
More signings still feel necessary, especially if the club want the next friendly to look less reliant on a narrow group of starters.
FAQ
Do Liverpool still need more signings after the Monaco friendly?
The Monaco friendly pointed to gaps in both defence and attack once the starters were changed. Liverpool were down to only Virgil van Dijk and Ifeanyi Ndukwe as fit specialist centre-backs against Monaco, while their wide options were described as limited. The performance backed up the case for more summer recruitment.
Is Jérémy Jacquet expected to be available for Liverpool's next match?
Andoni Iraola said Jacquet was left out against Monaco after a late fitness doubt, but should be fine for the next one. He also said Liverpool decided not to pick him for that game. Jacquet had been recovering from shoulder surgery and had completed a deal worth up to £60m from Rennes.
Why are Liverpool being linked with more attacking signings?
Liverpool's current wide options were listed as 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, new arrival Victor Munoz and transfer-linked Cody Gakpo. That thin group is why Bradley Barcola and other targets fit the wider rebuild. Barcola is expected to cost upwards of £110m and has three World Cup goals in eight appearances.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
