Danny Murphy believes Liverpool has a problem with two players in Andoni Iraola's starting XI, claiming they "just don’t have the quality" against certain opponents
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola during a press conference.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola during a press conference.(Image: Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy says full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong are Andoni Iraola's "biggest problem" at Anfield after his arrival from Bournemouth this summer.
Iraola has won one of his three games in charge to date and will manage in the Champions League for the first time tomorrow when Atletico Madrid comes to town. But Murphy is unconvinced by the players on the outside of the Liverpool defense.
"The bigger problem for Liverpool is that at times at Anfield, they are going to dominate the ball so much that the press isn’t going to be that important," Murphy told talkSPORT.
"The bigger problem is that the full-backs aren’t good enough at Liverpool. They are not good enough. They are not going to get better; it is not in them.
"They are 100mph. They are working hard but their level of crossing and choice of final pass is really poor.
"It looks worse for the Liverpool fans when you have been so used to seeing two of the best we’ve ever seen in Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, in terms of assists, quality and picking the final pass.
Milos Kerkez of Liverpool is challenged by Abdul Fatawu of Ipswich.
Milos Kerkez of Liverpool is challenged by Abdul Fatawu of Ipswich.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"They have brought in two full-backs, who aren’t as good. I think they are okay defensively, not brilliant, but they are OK.
"And going forward, the best teams have really good full-backs on the ball because teams clog up the middle of the pitch, so the space is wide.
"Your full-backs get so much of the ball, and Frimpong and Kerkez just don’t have that quality that you need to open up teams."
Iraola was asked about Kerkez during a press conference earlier, in which he expressed his thoughts that the Hungary international played well against Ipswich last week.
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"I know him very well and what he can achieve," Iraola said. "He still has a big potential, being very young, and a good amount of experience in the Premier League and with the national team.
"He needs to improve a lot of things, like all the others, otherwise there is no bigger step for him. I am ready to help him become a better player. He is in a good way."
Liverpool.com says: Ronald Araujo looked good against Ipswich and that is a plan that the Reds should try again. Kerkez, meanwhile, has always come under fire since he arrived at Liverpool, but is very young. There is more than enough time for him to improve.