Liverpool have won twice in a row since vice-captain Andrew Robertson returned to Arne Slot's starting line-up, while it's been a tricky start to his Anfield career for summer signing Milos Kerkez
Milos Kerkez.
Milos Kerkez.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Michael Owen has questioned whether Liverpool boss Arne Slot had written off vice-captain Andrew Robertson too soon, after a slow start to life at Anfield for Milos Kerkez - but some fans in the Liverpool Echo comments section say that the decision to buy Kerkez in the summer will come good.
The Reds spent £40million to bring one of the Premier League's top performing left-backs in from Bournemouth to be the successor to Robertson, but a string of starts early in the season failed to convince that he was ready to take that mantle.
Now that Robertson is back in the starting XI, Liverpool have won two games in a row against Aston Villa in the Premier League, and Real Madrid in the Champions League - becoming only the second team this season to beat the Spanish giants, and the first to stop them from scoring a goal.
Speaking to Premier League Productions’ The Final Word about Liverpool's left-back problems, Michael Owen said: “Did they need Kerkez for example? People pensioned Andy Robertson off pretty early in my opinion and now everyone is saying, ‘Well, maybe they should revert back to that.'”
Some fans say that it will all work out in the end for the Reds. Reader Jm786 says: "I remember how the 'bargain basement signing from Hull' started his LFC journey, and he was constantly vilified... then rightfully became a club legend. Milos will be fine!"
Commenter Dommo writes: "Kerkez is really young. He’s a long term prospect. He can take time to learn and adapt, and he’s got Andy Robertson to learn from so he’ll be fine!"
Michael Owen
Michael Owen has made his feelings clear already
View 2 Images
Others say that all of the change over the summer didn't do Kerkez, and other signings, any good. Ekitikitaka says: "Tsimikas left. We needed another left back. We got one that was great last season, Hughes knew well from his Bournemouth days and was a compatriot of Szoboszlai. We probably gave him too much game time too soon, and should have stuck with Robbo, but we needed a second left back regardless."
Nathandgriffiths also spotted teething problems: "He was the best LB in the league. But playing under a different system. The system employed by Slot until the last 2 games with the full backs effectively pushed into midfield didn’t just leave Kerkez exposed but Bradley and the centre-backs.
"That said, what Klopp did differently was ease players into the team. Particularly in midfield and defence where connections are all important."
Plfc says: "Kerkez and infact all the signings should have been handled same way as Klopp handled Robbo and few of his signings then. Let them watch, train and learn the LFC way first before thrusting them into the lion's den called a Premier League match."
Samsongforyou writes: "Kerkez was in bad form, and you could see it was affecting VvD. Robertson offers stability at the moment, but there's a reason we signed a new LB – Robertson's form had dipped, which was in large part due to his declining physical capability. That's just part of getting older in football.
"I think being second fiddle to Kerkez for a large part of the season has definitely given Robertson the push he needed to dig deep and find another level. The danger for some established players is that they unknowingly take their position for granted."
Have your say! Should Robertson be the first choice left-back for the rest of the season? Can he maintain these levels? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.