Journalist: Arne Slot is making this Liverpool player ‘look daft’ | OneFootball

Milos Kerkez and Liverpool’s Left-Back Puzzle: Are Expectations Outpacing Development?

Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Anfield marked their fourth consecutive loss in all competitions, a sequence that has brought both frustration and introspection. Among the many talking points, Milos Kerkez’s adaptation to Arne Slot’s system has drawn particular attention. David Lynch, speaking to Dave Davis for Anfield Index, offered a sharp yet fair assessment of the £40 million summer signing, challenging the growing criticism surrounding the young Hungarian defender.

Misunderstood or Mis-profiled?

“Someone said to me as they were leaving yesterday that they didn’t think Liverpool could have a worse left-back than Paul Konchesky. Are we watching the same game here?” Lynch began, highlighting the harshness of the current discourse. Kerkez, only 21, has been thrust into a complex tactical structure that demands more than just defensive stability.

“Defensively he has been absolutely fine but the problem here is that surely Liverpool haven’t miss-profiled him,” Lynch noted. “Surely they watched a lot of tapes and looked at the stats, he’s not a deep progressor of the ball.”

That observation cuts to the heart of Liverpool’s current imbalance. Slot’s full-backs are expected to serve as auxiliary midfielders, progressing play under pressure while maintaining defensive discipline. Kerkez, still developing his technical range, has found the transition challenging. His defensive numbers are respectable, but his lack of comfort in possession has been exposed in recent matches.

Tactical Fit and Growing Pains

Lynch continued: “He’s still only 21, so maybe he can get there and improve that part of his game. But they’ve got him holding Virgil van Dijk’s hand a lot of the time and wanting him to thread these through balls.” That dependence on structure is symptomatic of a team still adjusting after last season’s title-winning campaign. Slot’s system, so fluid and dynamic when in full flow, requires confidence and rhythm, both of which have been dented by the recent run of defeats.

“He looks so shaky when he gets the ball because he’s not comfortable. His body shape when he receives the ball is shocking and he’s always facing inside because he’s always looking to play it into Ryan Gravenberch or play it back into the centre-back,” Lynch added.

Photo: IMAGO

That analysis reveals a key coaching dilemma. Should Liverpool persist in moulding Kerkez into a progressive full-back, or should they temporarily adapt to his strengths? “He never feels comfortable going down the line or giving that cute ball inside. It may come further down the line, but until then Liverpool need to play to his strengths,” Lynch argued.

Patience and Perspective

“Liverpool are making him look daft at times because he’s a really good player and he’s still a young kid,” Lynch said, offering an important reminder of perspective. “I hope people don’t go too far in on him because a lot of the stick isn’t fair.”

Kerkez’s story is one of potential rather than failure. Liverpool’s struggles are collective, not individual, and while the full-back has yet to find his rhythm, his raw attributes remain promising. For Slot and his coaching staff, the next few weeks will be about simplifying his role, restoring confidence, and ensuring that the system supports his growth rather than exposing his limitations.

Liverpool’s left flank may not be flawless, but writing off a player with Kerkez’s ability and temperament would be premature. As Lynch pointed out, sometimes the issue lies not with the player, but with how he’s being asked to play.