Gary Neville praises £40m Liverpool star’s performance vs Leeds United | OneFootball

Milos Kerkez Rising Under Arne Slot at Liverpool

Liverpool have spent much of this season balancing expectation with evolution, and few players embody that shift quite like Milos Kerkez. The Hungarian full back arrived for £40m with clear potential, yet his introduction to life under Arne Slot has been uneven. The trip to Leeds offered another test, and this time Kerkez delivered with the assurance Liverpool supporters had been hoping to see.

Kerkez Showing Progress in Red

Slot made several changes for the Leeds match and Kerkez came in for Andy Robertson at left back. It has not been a smooth transition for a player still adapting to the speed and responsibility that come with being part of a title winning Liverpool side. Early criticisms were inevitable, particularly when replacing someone as consistent as Robertson. Moving from Bournemouth to a team built to dominate possession and press aggressively asks very different questions of a defender.

The signs, though, have been increasingly positive. Against Leeds, Kerkez produced a display built on timing, energy and defensive clarity. Even Gary Neville, on commentary duty, acknowledged the improvement. “It’s been a decent half-hour for Kerkez,” he said. “It’s been challenging for him [at Liverpool], but he’s been pretty good.” Neville later added: “I’ve not seen every Liverpool game but when I have he’s been struggling, but today has been one of his better games. He’s been really consistent out there.”

Photo: IMAGO

For Liverpool, that consistency is vital. Slot’s system requires full backs to defend aggressively, join midfield rotations and choose the right moments to break forward. At Elland Road, Kerkez stepped into those duties with greater confidence, biting into challenges and shutting down attacks in wide areas.

Tactical Friction on the Left

If there was a frustration in his performance, it came from the lack of synergy with Cody Gakpo. Liverpool’s left sided combinations rely heavily on trust and timing, yet Gakpo repeatedly overlooked Kerkez’s overlapping and underlapping runs. As a result, the Hungarian’s attacking influence was muted despite finding promising positions.

Gakpo’s form has been questioned in recent weeks, and this match only extended that debate. He carried the ball well enough and found space between the lines, but the cohesion expected at this level was missing. Kerkez suffered most from that disconnect, often left unused despite being the obvious outlet. Until that link improves, Liverpool may not see the full range of his attacking potential.

Slot’s Next Step for Liverpool’s Left Side

Although Kerkez is clearly progressing, Slot must find a clearer solution for the left wing. Gakpo has valuable qualities, but Liverpool need sharper combinations and quicker decisions in the final third. Kerkez looks ready to rise with the team, yet his ceiling depends on the structure ahead of him functioning properly.

Liverpool fans will welcome the improvements, especially as the club continue to integrate younger talents into a side aiming to defend their Premier League crown. Kerkez has the tools, the temperament and the manager to thrive. What he needs now is the platform, and that will be Slot’s next challenge to solve.