Arne Slot’s use of this Liverpool Star is ‘really strange’ – Journalist | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Left-Sided Puzzle Needs Solving

Liverpool’s recent slump has exposed uncomfortable truths about their full-back balance, particularly on the left. Three consecutive defeats to Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea have raised more questions than answers. Milos Kerkez, a £40m summer signing, has started all three and found himself under the microscope after a difficult evening at Stamford Bridge. Credit goes to David Lynch, speaking to Dave Davis for Anfield Index, for articulating what many have observed but struggled to define.

Kerkez Under Tactical Pressure

Kerkez did not arrive with a reputation as a possession metronome. His strengths lie in athleticism, aggression and explosive recovery runs. Yet Liverpool, now operating under a highly structured build-up system, have asked him to become something he is not. As Lynch put it: “I think he is one of the ones who are struggling in the build-up aspect.” The issue is not intent but suitability.

“Liverpool are asking him to do some really strange things that I think he’s not comfortable with.” That sentence reveals everything. The Hungarian international has been tasked with roles typically suited to technically polished operators, receiving under pressure from centre-backs, rotating into midfield and baiting presses. It is not his natural game.

Receiving Under Pressure

“I think he is a brilliant young player. But his strength at the moment is definitely not receiving the ball from the centre-back and working a way out in build-up.” That is both an endorsement and a warning. Kerkez has tools, but they are not fine-tuned for Liverpool’s current mechanics.

“He is so closed off with his body and that needs to be coached out of him immediately.” “He’s always sideways to receive the ball and if you see someone do that as an opposition winger, then you’re going to be straight on him because it’s a pressing trigger.” Chelsea certainly were. Every touch looked like a trap waiting to be sprung.

Photo: IMAGO

Short-Term Fix Or Long-Term Investment

“Liverpool need to find new ways to make him more comfortable and I wonder whether Arne Slot was protecting him a little bit by using tiredness as the reason.” Protecting young players is admirable, but Liverpool have title expectations, not teaching-platform expectations.

“Every time he got the ball he looked like the most pressable player on planet earth.” Brutal but fair. The Premier League will not wait for player development. At the same time, context matters. “But ultimately, the coaches are still learning about him and he is still learning things about his teammates and it’s just the uncertainty that follows after the turnover we had.” Liverpool themselves are still evolving post-transition.

“Kerkez is a problem that needs to be solved.” No finger-pointing, no scapegoating. Just clarity. A solution can arrive via coaching, tactical rebalancing or rotational shielding. What Liverpool cannot afford is leaving him exposed in high-risk zones while the rest of the structure adjusts around him.

Arne Slot won the Premier League title in his debut season by adapting faster than the rest. He may need to do so again.