“He’s not good enough!” – Paul Scholes takes aim at Liverpool star | OneFootball

Scholes raises concerns over Liverpool’s back line

Speaking on Stick to Football, Scholes questioned both the structure of Liverpool’s defence and the suitability of certain personnel. His comments reflected a growing sense of unease around the team’s defensive balance, particularly on the left flank.

“They need another centre-half, don’t they?” Scholes said. “I thought Konate was the best one against United, he was brilliant. But still, I’m thinking back-up, they need another centre-half.”

The former Manchester United player went further, singling out the full-backs for particular criticism: “The full-backs were both struggling. When you think of Frimpong, he’s a winger really – he looked really good but he’s a wing-back, not a full-back. The left-back [Kerkez] looks like a kid playing against men at times, he just doesn’t look good enough at this point, does he?”

His blunt assessment echoed a wider conversation among pundits about the defensive depth at Liverpool, especially given the youth and inexperience of their current options.

Kerkez faces early test of character

Kerkez, 21, joined Liverpool from Bournemouth during the summer for £40 million. Highly rated for his attacking instincts and energy, he was part of an unchanged line-up against Manchester United but struggled to contain Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo, both of whom found joy down Liverpool’s left-hand side.

The Hungarian’s performance drew criticism from more than one former player. Gary Neville, speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, described Kerkez as “playing like a 10-year-old left-back” and suggested the youngster appeared “all over the place” during key moments.

It has been a testing introduction to life at Anfield for Kerkez, whose potential is not in doubt but whose adaptation to Liverpool’s high defensive standards remains a work in progress. As ESPN FC noted, former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley also weighed in, accusing Virgil van Dijk of “blaming” Kerkez during the match rather than guiding him through a difficult spell. It was, as Burley put it, “not the example a young player needs in a tough fixture.”

Defensive depth again under the microscope

Scholes’ view that Liverpool “need another centre-half” will resonate with supporters who have expressed similar frustrations in recent weeks. With Jarell Quansah’s £30 million move to Bayer Leverkusen completed over the summer, there remains a question as to whether those funds should have been immediately reinvested in defensive reinforcements.

Arne Slot has trusted his existing options, rotating between Ibou Konate, Van Dijk, and Joe Gomez, but an injury to any of them could expose a lack of senior depth. The Dutchman’s system demands athletic, tactically disciplined defenders – qualities that take time to develop, especially for a player like Kerkez adjusting to the club’s intensity and expectations.

Slot’s challenge to restore defensive stability

Liverpool’s recruitment strategy under Slot focused primarily on strengthening the forward line, but recent performances suggest that defensive solidity must now become a priority. The club’s identity under previous regimes was built on control and resilience, two attributes that have looked fragile in recent weeks.

With the Champions League campaign continuing and the Premier League title race tightening, Scholes’ comments underline a growing sense that Liverpool’s success this season may depend on shoring up their defensive base.

As the pressure mounts, Kerkez faces an opportunity to prove his critics wrong – and Slot, a test of his ability to balance development with results at the highest level.