Liverpool is reportedly "making allowances" for Milos Kerkez's difficult start to his Liverpool career.
The Hungarian full-back was among the Premier League's best left-backs last season, emerging as the Reds' first-choice target to succeed Andy Robertson in the long term.
However, since moving to Anfield, Kerkez has been hugely disappointing and actually lost his place in the team prior to the international break.
Robertson lined up in Kerkez's place for the wins against Aston Villa and Real Madrid as well as the 3-0 loss away to Manchester City earlier this month, and the new signing had to be content with a place on the bench.
However, when Liverpool's season resumed against Nottingham Forest last weekend, Kerkez was back in the side, while he also lined up in the Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven.
Liverpool shipped seven goals across those two games, and Kerkez copped plenty of criticism for his positioning during the 4-1 defeat by PSV.
Despite his struggles, The Times reports that Liverpool is making "allowances" for Kerkez's slow start due to his age – he turned 22 earlier this month – and the fact that his teammates are still getting used to his runs.
Former Liverpool stars Steven Gerrard and Steve McManaman did not make allowances for Kerkez on Wednesday as they analyzed his defending during the loss to PSV.
For PSV's second goal, Kerkez was caught on the wrong side of Guus Til as the opposition player latched onto a through ball before prodding the ball past Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Milos Kerkez looks on during the Champions League group game between Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool FC at the Deutsche Bank Park
Kerkez joined Liverpool from Bournemouth (Image: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto)
Kerkez was also caught up the pitch for PSV's fourth goal, scored by Couhaib Driouech, and the Hungarian received lots of criticism for that goal from Gerrard.
"Kerkez is out of position for the majority of the game," Gerrard said on TNT Sports. "It is criminal to be on that side of the attacker. You have to be on the inside. Kerkez gives himself no chance to get a challenge in. He is out of position for the fourth goal too."
McManaman added: "Kerkez doesn't do anything to influence the [second] goal. He isn't in position, he doesn't play him (Til) offside, he runs with him but doesn't get a tackle in. He may as well have been free! Kerkez just gets close but close isn't enough."