18/08/2026
🆕🗣Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge was pleased with the performance of the Reds' two new centre-backs - but remains concerned over the fitness of the squad.
"There was a mixture of relief and encouragement at seeing Liverpool with two new centre-backs on the pitch on Sunday," he said.
"Not knowing exactly what to expect from either Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo meant there were some obvious concerns over whether either would be right for us at the moment.
"But both put in a really good shift and it’s allowed supporters to gain a little bit more confidence going into the start of the season this weekend.
"Andoni Iraola held his hands up last weekend and admitted Liverpool didn’t have the required fitness levels to get through a full 90 minutes using the approach he wants.
"It was pretty much the same story as last season when Arne Slot had the same complaints, which led to criticism of the training methods.
"Only the next few months will determine whether or not it’s the players who simply aren’t properly equipped to deal with such an intense style of play last seen under Jurgen Klopp. But these players are all athletes and like machines given their nutrition and how they are meticulously prepared. They should be able to handle it.
"Sunday, then, was a step in the right direction with Liverpool able to keep things together for the full match and gain a much-needed clean sheet.
"It could well be a case for some players that they are replaced for the final 20 minutes until they get up to speed properly. That’s where the bench will be important to keep the intensity going for the whole match.
"𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒕, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝑰𝒓𝒂𝒐𝒍𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒊𝒕 𝒂𝒕 𝑩𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒂 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒌𝒔."