Speaking to Sky Sports after Liverpool's 1-0 win at Bournemouth, where he was named man of the match, the 21-year-old described what it means to play alongside the club captain. Jacquet has made five Premier League starts and one in the Champions League, against Atlético Madrid, since he took his place in Liverpool's back four.
Van Dijk went first in the joint interview, and said: “I think he has showed a lot of good things so far this season. Still so young, a lot to learn and a lot to give. Let's keep it going.”
Jacquet returned the compliment: “It is big for me to play with Virgil. I can learn a lot from him. I'm very happy, I play with a lot of very good players so for me I just enjoy it.”
His route to Anfield has not been straightforward. Liverpool agreed a £60 million deal for the Rennes academy product in February, made up of £55 million guaranteed and £5 million in add-ons after seeing off Chelsea.
Jacquet then stayed in France for the rest of 2025-26, making 19 Ligue 1 appearances before shoulder surgery in March ended his season, according to beIN Sports, and his move was completed on 1 July. He has signed a contract running to the summer of 2031.
Andoni Iraola has watched him adapt quickly. The Liverpool head coach said at his press conference, published on the club's official website: “I'm happy for him because he's also received his first international call-up.
"He's going with France and that is a big national team and I know that he is happy. He's still very young, he is adapting really well to the Premier League. I think in the first games, physically he was feeling the change of rhythm, he was finishing with cramps, finishing really tired and we had to sub him. Today has been a step forward.
"He looked solid until the end and I think he's finished physically also in a good place. I hope he can continue this development.”
The clean sheet at Bournemouth was Liverpool's third in a row in the league, following the goalless draw with Fulham and the 2-0 win over Ipswich Town, with Ronald Araújo and Miloš Kerkez also impressing alongside the two centre-backs.
Jacquet now joins the France squad for the international break, and Liverpool's next league game is at home to Manchester City on 11 October.