Milos Kerkez turned in another performance of the highest quality to help Liverpool to a 3-0 win over Marseille on Wednesday.
The left-back has been growing into his role as Arne Slot’s regular starter after a tricky settling in period at the beginning of the season.
Wednesday’s was arguably Kerkez‘s best performance in a Liverpool shirt so far, but he has been steadily improving for a couple of months already.
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Olympique Marseille v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League
Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates /Getty Images
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It is a far cry from the early weeks of the season, when the Hungarian looked completely lost in the Liverpool back line.
Committed, all-action and potentially a little on the crazy side, Kerkez has begun to win over the Reds fanbase in its entirety. With supporters now firmly on his side, the 22-year-old took to social media on Wednesday evening to send a response to the change in feeling over him.
Milos Kerkez uses critics to fuel him
You have to hand it to Kerkez. Just a few short months ago he looked like the step up from Bournemouth to Liverpool might just be too much for him.
But he has clearly been knuckling down on the training pitch and is now very much the player who waltzed into the PFA Team of the Year last season.
Benjamin Pavard and Milos Kerkez during Olympique Marseille v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League
Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates /Getty Images
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Liverpool supporter John O Sullivan admitted as much on X after Wednesday’s game, sending an apology to Kerkez for his early judgement.
“Accept my apologies Milos Kerkez,” writes the fan. “I was way too quick to judge you. I can see now why you were voted the best left back in the Premier League last season.”
Despite not being tagged in the post, Kerkez soon responded, telling O Sullivan: “It’s ok bro, critics give me even more fuel.” Brilliant.
How good has Kerkez been recently?
His display vs Marseille was possibly his best so far
Milos Kerkez strikes the ball during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League match against Marseille at Stade Velodrome (Credit: Getty Images/Jean Catuffe).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Jean Catuffe
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Kerkez can get even better
Liverpool fans were absolutely delighted to see the response from Kerkez, who would have been within his rights to launch a few ‘I told you so’s’ had he been minded to.
Instead of treating those who’d written him off with disdain, though, the left-back has risen above it, and that will ingratiate him to Liverpool supporters even more.
What will turn things around fully for Kerkez, however, is more good performances on the pitch.
Although he has massively improved and is now a genuine asset for Arne Slot, there is a feeling that the youngster can get even better.
Kerkez’s attacking output is the next thing which needs a little work, but if he can start delivering more in the final third of the pitch, there may be a few more apologies coming his way in the very near future.
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