Slot explains full back decisions | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Full-Back Dilemma: Slot Balances Kerkez Integration with Tactical Demands

Liverpool’s 2–1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge was more than just another setback in their inconsistent start to the Premier League season. It offered another glimpse into the delicate balancing act Arne Slot faces as he attempts to reshape the club’s defensive identity.

Slot’s Measured Approach to Managing Kerkez

Milos Kerkez, signed from Bournemouth for £40 million this summer, has quickly become a focal point of Slot’s early challenges at Anfield. The 20-year-old Hungarian full-back has started all seven of Liverpool’s league fixtures but was substituted just after the 55-minute mark against Chelsea, visibly fatigued and struggling to contain the hosts’ pace on the flanks.

Slot later confirmed the decision was precautionary rather than punitive. “Milos was more and more tired – he played 90 minutes in two games and now for the third game in a week, which he’s not used to when he played at Bournemouth,” the Liverpool manager explained. “You could feel and see it got more and more difficult to keep going, and their wingers are a threat, so we decided to make a change.”

It was a telling comment. Slot’s words hinted at a broader issue — the physical and tactical adjustment required when stepping up from Bournemouth’s reactive system to Liverpool’s high-possession, high-intensity approach.

Full-Back Evolution Under Slot

Kerkez is not the only defender learning under new demands. Conor Bradley, deployed on the opposite flank, was also withdrawn at half-time after receiving an early booking. Slot explained that his substitution was a matter of game management. “Most of the time, I have to change full-backs after they’re on a yellow. Conor made a second foul and players were asking for another card, so it wasn’t smart to risk it,” he said.

The Dutch coach’s preference for his full-backs to invert and contribute to build-up play places additional strain on players still adapting to his system. With Trent Alexander-Arnold no longer part of the setup, Slot has sought balance between defensive stability and attacking width — an evolution that remains very much a work in progress.

Kerkez’s Struggles Reflect Wider Structural Concerns

Kerkez’s difficulties at Stamford Bridge were emblematic of a wider problem. Liverpool’s transitional defending faltered repeatedly, and the young Hungarian was often isolated against Chelsea’s wide threats. While his energy and directness remain assets, his positional discipline and recovery play need refinement in a team that dominates possession differently to Bournemouth.

Critics have also noted a drop in Liverpool’s fluency moving out from the back, particularly without Alexander-Arnold’s range of passing. Slot’s tactical adjustment has seen central defenders tasked with greater creative responsibility — a challenge that exposed Ibrahima Konaté before his second-half substitution due to a quad concern.

Slot’s Balancing Act and the Path Forward

Slot’s decision-making reflects pragmatism rather than panic. Managing Kerkez’s workload while maintaining intensity across competitions is key to Liverpool’s long-term cohesion. “It was clear I had to take Konaté off,” Slot said. “He played three games in a week with long flights in between. When Ryan [Gravenberch] came into that role, we created better opportunities from the back.”

The manager’s comments underscored a recurring theme of his tenure — adaptation. Kerkez may not yet be the finished article, but Liverpool’s defensive rebuild depends on players like him maturing within a demanding tactical framework. As Slot continues to refine his full-back rotation and integrate new profiles, the hope is that Liverpool’s defensive uncertainty will evolve into flexibility rather than fragility.

For now, Slot’s early months in charge are defined by experimentation and endurance — both for him and for his full-backs.