Fulham 2-2 Liverpool: Match Review
Jamie Carragher continues to be concerned over this Liverpool player’s performances
Jamie Carragher doesn’t believe rotation has been beneficial for Milos Kerkez but it is ‘working for Liverpool’. The Anfield icon doesn’t believe the full-back should be playing for the Reds week in, week out.
Kerkez’s arrival was part of Liverpool’s record-breaking summer of spending. The Hungarian international’s arrival was highly anticipated following his impressive season with Bournemouth. However, he has not had the anticipated impact on his new club.
Kerkez has come under significant criticism by pundits, with Gary Neville in particular voicing his frustrations with the 22-year-old. Back in October, the former Manchester United defender described the left-back as ‘all over the place’ who ‘plays like a ten-year-old’.
Arne Slot has been alternating between starting Kerkez and Andy Robertson in recent weeks. The Hungarian has started five of Liverpool’s last six Premier League games but Carragher is still not convinced by the new signing.
Milos Kerkez ‘struggling’ at Liverpool
Following Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Fulham, Carragher weighed in on Kerkez’s struggles at Anfield so far and has drawn a comparison with Darwin Nunez.
When asked if being rotated has benefited Kerkez, the centre-back told Sky Sports: “No, but I think it’s working for Liverpool in that I don’t think he should be playing every week. You’ve got too good a player in Andy Robertson who needs to play games as well.”
Indeed, Robertson was linked with a move away from Liverpool following reports of the club’s mission to sign a new left-back. The Scot spent five of the first eight Premier League games as an unused substitute but was called upon to step in when Kerkez’s errors started to become more frequent.
Carragher believes that despite playing fewer games, the standard of Robertson’s performances has been better than Kerkez’s.
“He’s found it tough, it’s been a struggle for him. He’s a young man, but he will have to improve in the second half of the season, there’s no doubt about that.”
Milos Kerkez compared to Darwin Nunez
“It’s funny watching him [Kerkez] play. I always remember speaking about Trent Alexander-Arnold, who Liverpool have missed enormously of course, and said it’s like having Kevin De Bruyne at right-back. Sometimes when you watch Kerkez, it’s like having Darwin Nunez at left-back, it’s just a bit mad,” Carragher continued.
“There’s no real thought process, what’s he doing with the ball, how’s he connecting with other players, it’s just head down, run. He never gets his head up and actually plays passes.”
Kerkez was a highly sought-after transfer target over the summer, along with fellow former Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen. Liverpool had been linked with both players but Huijsen made a £50 million move to Real Madrid instead.
Kerkez arrived at Anfield for £40 million and immediately became Slot’s first choice. The Hungarian was expected to hit the ground running after standing out so significantly with Bournemouth. However, the likes of Carragher and Neville, among others, remain unconvinced by his performances in a red shirt so far.
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