Van Dijk urges Jacquet to stay grounded after flying start to Liverpool career

Virgil van Dijk has told Jeremy Jacquet to keep his feet on the ground after the French defender made a seamless transition into Liverpool’s first team following his summer move from Rennes.

Jacquet, 21, has started each of Liverpool’s opening five matches of the season and has quickly formed a centre-back partnership with Van Dijk that has underpinned three consecutive Premier League clean sheets. The deal to bring Jacquet to Anfield was agreed in January before being completed in the summer.

“He has had an excellent start, but we are only in September,” Van Dijk said. “I want him to keep working and keep learning. I am sure he will. There is obviously a lot of praise and rightly so, but I know how it works when you play a game not at the standards you have set. So let’s just stay calm, keep working, and try and stay important for us.”

The Liverpool captain acknowledged that the partnership is still developing but expressed confidence in its direction. “It is still a work in progress. There are still things we can improve but you learn by playing games. I said at the start that you experience things in games and see how each other react to certain moments, and then you adapt to that.”

Van Dijk was keen to highlight Jacquet’s age as both a reason for encouragement and a reminder of the journey still ahead. “He is very promising but it is up to him to keep working hard and stay calm. Hopefully there are years of his Liverpool career left. He has to stay calm, keep working hard and keep being important for the team — nothing more and nothing less.”

The Dutchman also credited the entire squad for the defensive solidity Liverpool have shown, pushing back on any suggestion that clean sheets are solely down to the back line. “Clean sheets are always a good sign. Everyone is playing a big part in that. The guys up front and the midfielders put in the hard work, and it is a great base to build on.”

Van Dijk pointed to a sharp save from goalkeeper Alisson — denying Evanilson from close range — as an example of the collective effort required. “There were a couple of shots from distance and the chance Alisson saved brilliantly. Overall, defensively, we were solid.”