Milos Kerkez is slowly becoming Liverpool’s new version of Trent Alexander-Arnold, but it’s for all the wrong reasons.
Alexander-Arnold choosing to leave Anfield upon the expiry of his contract hurt the Reds’ fanbase.
Most thought that the Englishman would see out the rest of his career with his boyhood club, but unfortunately, that’s not how he saw things.
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Since his exit, some fans have dubbed him ‘El Rata’, and upon his return to Anfield on Tuesday, each time he touched the ball, he was booed.
And, although Kerkez may play on the opposite side to Alexander-Arnold, the fact that he was brought in to replace Andy Robertson and the Englishman was brought in to replace Dani Carvajal, their stories are much more similar than most think.
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid CF reacts prior the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and Olympique de Marseille at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images
Both were brought in to replace the ageing star of their new teams, but now, neither are getting much of a look-in.
Milos Kerkez and Trent Alexander-Arnold may struggle to get into the starting XIs of their new clubs
Although Liverpool and Real Madrid’s fans were expecting Kerkez and Alexander-Arnold to be the difference-makers, all they’ve done is further cement the places of the people they were brought in to replace.
It’s still early in the season, of course, and things can change, but even with Carvajal out injured for Real, the Englishman is failing to get a start with Federico Valverde often seen covering at right-back.
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Kerkez’s situation is also very similar to Alexander-Arnold’s. Even though Arne Slot wants the Hungarian to be his first choice, the recent performances that Robertson has put in make that close to impossible.
Indeed, Kerkez is much faster and arguably has a much better attacking output than the Scotsman, but defensively, where Liverpool need the most help, Robertson has been much more useful.
This makes it close to impossible for either of the two to leave their mark and prove why they were signed in the first place.
Milos Kerkez must break out of his rut and work on his defensive contributions for Liverpool
Kerkez’s time at Liverpool thus far hasn’t been completely terrible.
The left-back has produced the odd moment of class here and there, but with the way that Slot is setting his team up at the moment, the Hungarian’s best attributes can’t be put to good use.
One of the things that made him the Premier League’s best left-back last year was the runs that he used to do up and down the pitch.
These often resulted in Bournemouth getting a goal or at least set up a chance for them to try and get one.
Milos Kerkez of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
However, since Slot often wants his left-back to tuck in next to Virgil van Dijk, his weaknesses as a defender are exposed.
He is still 21 years old, so there’s plenty of time for him to develop, but if Kerkez doesn’t prove that he can be better than Robertson soon, he could end up turning into Liverpool’s version of Alexander-Arnold, but not in a good way.