A promising start to his Liverpool career has been abruptly halted for Jérémy Jacquet, the newly signed centre-back suffering a “serious” shoulder injury while playing for Rennes. The injury occurred during a 3-1 defeat to Lens in Ligue 1 on Saturday, casting a shadow over the Reds’ plans for the 20-year-old defender.
Rennes head coach Habib Beye confirmed the severity of the injury in his post-match interview, stating that Jacquet’s shoulder issue is “definitely quite serious.” Ait Boudlal, another Rennes player, also sustained an injury, described as muscular, though the extent of his setback remains unclear. The club will assess both players further to determine the full scope of their injuries and recovery timelines.
Liverpool had secured Jacquet’s services for a reported £55 million, plus a potential £5 million in add-ons, with the agreement finalized on July 1st. The deal, which includes a five-year contract with an option for a further year, followed a competitive pursuit that saw off interest from Chelsea. Reds manager Arne Slot lauded Jacquet as “a very big talent and maybe even more than a talent, but we speak about talent because of his age” upon the announcement of the transfer.
The injury throws Liverpool’s defensive plans into question. The signing of Jacquet was intended to bolster the team’s backline ahead of the upcoming season, and his absence will likely force the club to reassess its options. The extent of the injury will dictate whether Liverpool pursues alternative defensive targets during the transfer window.
Saturday’s match saw Lens reclaim the top spot in Ligue 1 with a 10th consecutive home win, defeating Rennes 3-1. Esteban Lepaul opened the scoring for Rennes, but a brace from Odsonne Édouard and a goal from Ruben Aguilar turned the tide for Lens. Despite Aguilar’s subsequent red card, Lens held on, adding a third goal through Allan Saint-Maximin to secure the victory.
The result leaves Lens one point ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, who face a challenging match against rivals Marseille on Sunday. Lens’ unexpected title challenge continues to gather momentum, fueled by their impressive home form.
Elsewhere in Europe, Barcelona showcased their dominance with a 3-0 victory over Mallorca in La Liga. Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring in the 29th minute, followed by a stunning strike from Lamine Yamal and a solo effort from Marc Bernal. The win extends Barcelona’s lead at the top of the table to four points over Real Madrid, who play Valencia on Sunday.
A pitch condition issue forced the postponement of Rayo Vallecano’s match against Real Oviedo in Spain, while Sevilla’s game against Girona was moved to Sunday due to adverse weather. Real Sociedad secured a 3-1 win over Elche, with Luka Sucic, Mikel Oyarzabal, and Orri Oskarsson finding the net.
In the Bundesliga, Serhou Guirassy’s late goal secured a 2-1 victory for Borussia Dortmund over VfL Wolfsburg, narrowing the gap to league leaders Bayern Munich to three points. Julian Brandt had given Dortmund the lead, but Konstantinos Koulierakis equalized for Wolfsburg before Guirassy’s decisive strike.
St Pauli continued their impressive turnaround with a 2-1 win over Stuttgart, while Bayer Leverkusen were held to a 1-1 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Mainz continued their resurgence under Urs Fischer, defeating Augsburg 2-0, and Hamburg earned a crucial 2-0 victory over Heidenheim. Werder Bremen’s winless streak extended to 11 games with a defeat to Freiburg.
In Serie A, Napoli secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Genoa, with Rasmus Højlund scoring a stoppage-time penalty. The win, achieved despite playing with 10 men after Juan Jesus’ dismissal, brings Napoli closer to the top of the table. The penalty decision, following a VAR review, proved controversial.
Guillermo Maripán’s late equalizer salvaged a 2-2 draw for Torino at Fiorentina, leaving the hosts in a precarious position near the relegation zone. Fiorentina’s struggles highlight the competitive nature of Serie A this season.
