Arne Slot should be seriously concerned about Milos Kerkez after the left-back’s display in Hungary’s 2-3 loss to Ireland on Sunday afternoon. The Liverpool boss stormed to the Premier League title in his maiden campaign, and a summer of heavy spending - £419 million worth of upgrades - should have set the stage for another dominant season. Instead, it’s had the opposite effect.
Three of those new arrivals have already landed on the unwanted list of the 10 worst Premier League signings of the season. Among them is Kerkez, who has recently been displaced by the man he was meant to replace, Andrew Robertson. Early on, it seemed one good season with Bournemouth had flattered him - a sign he might have been a one-season wonder struggling to adapt to life at Anfield.
But Liverpool supporters keeping a close eye on his international performances have been quick to point out that Kerkez still has bags of quality; he just hasn’t been able to show it in red yet. And now, some of the blame for that is slowly shifting away from the player - and toward Slot himself.
Kerkez's Hungary Performance Raises Questions About Slot's Management
Milos Kerkez
Kerkez’s last genuinely strong performance for Liverpool was probably the 1–0 win over Arsenal, where he won all of his duels against Noni Madueke and showed he could channel his fiery temperament into defensive solidity. Since then - nearly three months on - the Hungarian’s form has been patchy at best. But for his country, it’s been a completely different story.
Under Marco Rossi, the left-back hasn’t shown even a hint of the struggles he’s faced at club level. His display against Ireland once again highlighted the star quality he’s capable of reaching. Across 95 minutes, he won all three of his tackles, made three interceptions, produced five clearances, blocked a shot, won seven of eight ground duels, provided an assist, and created a game-high five chances.
Those numbers have left many Liverpool supporters wondering where things are breaking down at club level - and whether Slot’s system is to blame. As one X user put it:
"I can’t believe people are calling Kerkez a flop already when it’s just so clear all his bad performances are mostly down to how slot uses him."
Liverpool manager Arne Slot during their match against Real Madrid.
UEFA Champions League - Liverpool v Real Madrid - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - November 4, 2025 Liverpool manager Arne Slot REUTERS/Phil Noble
In the end, Kerkez’s tireless display wasn’t enough to save Hungary, who waved goodbye to their chances of qualifying for next summer’s World Cup. That in itself won’t worry Reds supporters - but the stark contrast between his international form and his Liverpool performances certainly does. Another fan summed up the growing frustration by noting: "Milos Kerkez assist. Dominik Szoboszlai assist. Arne Slot…. I prefer not to speak."
Meanwhile, a third continued: "Milos Kerkez assist for another brilliant goal for Hungary. This is genuinely disgusting, Slot work it out," as a fourth concluded: "Genuinely concerned about Slot, Kerkez always looks a different player for his country and, for Bournemouth, looked unreal."
It’s proven difficult for Kerkez to unseat Robertson in the early days of his Liverpool career, but in truth, few full-backs would even dare take on such a thankless task.
Panic seems to be setting in among some supporters, but what's more, no manager in world football proved more adaptable last season than Slot. A slower, more measured integration through this transition period could work wonders - just not immediately.