Liverpool's impressive start to the new era has attracted plenty of attention, but there is one major weakness that could become increasingly difficult to ignore, defensive depth.
The squad may look strong on paper, but a closer look at Liverpool's current defensive options reveals a worrying lack of reliable depth. With Champions League football, an intense physical style and a demanding schedule ahead, the Reds could be walking into a serious defensive crisis if injuries begin to pile up.
Jeremie Jacquet Has Started Brilliantly
One of the biggest positives has been Jeremie Jacquet.
The young centre-back has started his Liverpool career brilliantly and has already looked comfortable at the highest level. He has shown composure, physicality and the confidence to operate in an aggressive defensive system.
Jacquet has particularly excelled under new coach Iraola, quickly becoming one of the most encouraging developments in Liverpool's defence.
His emergence is crucial because Liverpool desperately need another dependable centre-back alongside their established stars.
Araujo Has Been Fantastic — But Liverpool's Defensive Balancing Act Is Fragile
Ronald Araujo has been one of Liverpool’s standout performers, adapting impressively from centre-back to right-back with his pace, strength and defensive reliability. However, his success also exposes Liverpool’s lack of defensive depth.
If Virgil van Dijk or Jeremie Jacquet gets injured, Araujo may have to return to centre-back, leaving Jeremie Frimpong at right-back, a position where Iraola appears reluctant to trust him. An Araujo injury would be even more damaging, weakening both positions simultaneously.
Ultimately, Liverpool are heavily dependent on Araujo’s availability to maintain their defensive balance.
Van Dijk Is Still Excellent — But He Isn't Getting Younger
Then there is Virgil van Dijk.
The Liverpool captain remains hugely impressive and continues to be the defensive leader of the team. His positioning, aerial ability, composure and leadership remain invaluable.
But there is an unavoidable concern: Van Dijk is not getting any younger.
Liverpool cannot realistically expect him to play almost every important fixture throughout a long season without needing careful management. The more responsibility placed on his shoulders, the greater the risk of fatigue or injury becoming a problem.
And if Van Dijk were to miss an extended period, Liverpool's defensive structure could look completely different.
Leoni and Bradley Need Careful Management
Liverpool also have promising players such as Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley, but both have suffered significant injury setbacks.
Even once they return, Liverpool cannot simply expect them to immediately play every three or four days. Players coming back from serious injuries need to be carefully managed, particularly during a season involving domestic competitions and Champions League football.
That further reduces the number of defenders Liverpool can confidently rely upon at any given time.
Gomez, Kerkez and Tsimikas Add More Concerns
Joe Gomez presents another problem. His versatility is useful, but his injury history means Liverpool cannot realistically build their entire defensive depth around his availability.
At left-back, Milos Kerkez has yet to fully convince, while Kostas Tsimikas is a player better suited to a backup role rather than someone Liverpool can depend upon as a long-term starter.
This creates a worrying situation where several positions have either questionable depth, injury concerns or players who are being asked to operate outside their ideal roles.
One Injury Could Change Everything
This is where Liverpool's defensive crisis could become serious.
An injury to either Van Dijk or Araujo could completely disrupt the balance and spine of the defence.
Araujo is currently covering right-back, while Van Dijk remains the experienced leader in the centre. Jacquet has impressed enormously, but expecting a young defender to carry an increasingly important role across an entire season is another matter.
Liverpool's defensive depth is therefore far more fragile than the squad list initially suggests.
Champions League Football Makes It Worse
The Champions League adds another layer of difficulty.
Liverpool will have to compete across multiple competitions while playing an intense, physically demanding style under Iraola. That means defenders will be required to sprint, press, recover and defend large spaces repeatedly throughout the season.
The physical demands inevitably increase the likelihood of fatigue and injuries.
With Leoni and Bradley needing careful management, Gomez's injury history, uncertainty at left-back and Araujo being required at right-back, Liverpool could be incredibly lucky to avoid a defensive injury crisis as the season progresses.
Final Verdict
Liverpool's defence is not necessarily bad, in fact, there are several outstanding players. Jacquet has been excellent, Araujo has impressed enormously, and Van Dijk remains a defensive leader.
The problem is what happens when one of them is unavailable.
The Reds have shockingly little dependable depth behind their strongest defensive options. Unless their defenders remain remarkably healthy, Liverpool could eventually find themselves facing a major problem at the back, and with Champions League ambitions, that could prove decisive.
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