Two teenagers signed for a combined £3.5m from the U17 World Cup were the centre-back pairing for most of Liverpool's first pre-season game. That is the startling reality of a defensive crisis that has left new head coach Andoni Iraola with only one fit senior centre-back: the 35-year-old Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool are in the middle of a pre-season tour of the United States, but instead of building chemistry and fitness, Iraola is scrambling to patch together a defence. Joe Gomez, the club's longest-serving current player, was forced off injured after just eight minutes against Sunderland. With Jeremy Jacquet (21) and Giovanni Leoni (19) also unfit, Iraola had to turn to Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe – both teenagers yet to make a senior appearance. Even before Gomez's injury, Iraola described his squad as "very thin" defensively.
“Why Liverpool have only one fit senior centre-back and what it means for the season.”
This situation did not emerge overnight. Liverpool spent heavily on young centre-backs: Jacquet from France for £60m and Leoni from Italy for £26m – believing they were the best young defenders in their respective countries. The club let Ibrahima Konate leave on a free transfer to Real Madrid partly because they had faith in these signings. But both are far from the finished product, and Ndiaye and Ndukwe were bought as long-term projects. Even Gomez has now missed 225 games through injury since signing from Charlton in 2015. Van Dijk, though still a force, played every Premier League minute last season and is now 35 – he is not the player he once was. Both he and Gomez are also in the final year of their contracts, raising the possibility of both leaving next summer.
The urgency is compounded by Iraola's demanding style. Left-back Milos Kerkez, who played under Iraola at Bournemouth, described the training as so intense that players are "all lying down" afterwards. Iraola demands high pressing, one-on-one defending, and constant running – with "consequences" of extra runs for losing teams in drills. That system needs fit, experienced defenders, especially at centre-back where organisation and leadership are vital. Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler told BBC Sport: "We need players. It's fairly obvious."
For UK supporters, this defensive crisis could define Liverpool's season. The Premier League is intensely competitive, and a threadbare defence – especially with an ageing Van Dijk – risks derailing any title challenge. Iraola's high-intensity tactics also increase injury risk, meaning depth is not a luxury but a necessity. The club's long-term planning, while admirable, has left a short-term gap that must be filled before the transfer window closes or the season's opening fixtures.
Q: Why are Liverpool so short of centre-backs? Liverpool sold Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer to Real Madrid, believing that young signings Jeremy Jacquet (£60m) and Giovanni Leoni (£26m) were ready to step up. But both are currently injured or not fully fit, and the teenagers Mor Talla Ndiaye and Ifeanyi Ndukwe are raw prospects. Joe Gomez's latest injury has left only Virgil van Dijk as a senior option.
Q: Who is Andoni Iraola and what is his style? Andoni Iraola is Liverpool's new head coach, appointed in summer 2026. He previously managed Bournemouth, where he developed a reputation for intense, high-pressing football. Left-back Milos Kerkez, who played for him at Bournemouth, says Iraola demands "intensity" and that players are often left lying on the floor after training. He is very professional, keeps a distance from players, and emphasises defending first.
Q: Can Liverpool fix the centre-back problem before the season starts? It depends on the severity of Joe Gomez's injury – an update is expected this week. Jeremy Jacquet is in line to make his debut against Leeds on Sunday, which would provide a short-term option. However, Iraola has admitted the squad is too thin, and with the transfer window still open, Liverpool are likely to seek reinforcements. Given the shortage of fit senior centre-backs, a signing before the season begins appears necessary.
What happens next is uncertain. The club must assess Gomez's recovery and decide whether to accelerate Jacquet and Leoni's integration or enter the transfer market. Iraola's reputation for demanding football means any new signing must be able to cope with his physical requirements. For now, Liverpool are gambling that their teenagers can hold the line – but the margin for error is razor-thin.