Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
If there was one Liverpool player who wanted to stay out of the headlines against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night, it will have been under-fire full-back Milos Kerkez.
The 22-year-old has struggled to get going since arriving at Anfield from AFC Bournemouth in 2025, but it had been hoped that a reunion with Andoni Iraola would help the player fulfil his potential.
Kerkez has started all three Premier League games so far under Iraola and was named in the starting XI to take on Atletico Madrid. It took just 20 minutes for more criticism to be fired at the player.
Milos Kerkez at fault for Atletico Madrid opener
Liverpool's Milos Kerkez heads the ball
Premier League - Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - December 13, 2025 Liverpool's Milos Kerkez in action REUTERS/Phil Noble
Liverpool won the clash at Anfield 2-1, but had to come from behind against the La Liga giants. That was, in no small part, down to a Kerkez error.
Danger man Marcos Llorente put the visitors ahead, having been allowed to break through the defence with ease when Kerkez appeared to momentarily switch off. Following the strike, Kerkez lifted an arm in apology as Virgil Van Dijk and Jeremy Jacquet lifted their arms in frustration.
Luckily for the defender, the Reds clawed their way back to victory, but mistakes like that can be so costly on the biggest stage - the type of which Liverpool fans are not used to seeing thanks to the stability of Andy Robertson.
The error came just days after former Premier League star Danny Murphy pointed at the downgrades that Liverpool have been hit with in both full-back positions.
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.
"They have brought in two full-backs, who aren't as good. I think they are okay defensively, not brilliant, but they are okay. "
Murphy's criticism was levelled at Kerkez's impetus going forwards, but Wednesday night will prompt questions over his work at the back too. The Express awarded the player a lowly 4/10 rating, criticising his 'critical' defending.
It's not a situation that Iraola is blind to. Speaking ahead of the game, the manager was asked about criticism towards the player and responded with praise for Kerkez's showing against Ipswich Town last weekend.
He added: "I know him very well and what he can achieve. He still has big potential and he has good amount of experience in the Premier League and international team. I trust him.
"He has a lot to improve, like all the players, otherwise there is no bigger ceiling. I am ready to try to help him to become a better player."
The growing pressure to perform certainly won't be helping Kerkez, and may potentially lead to more unforced errors, such as the one against Atletico. It's a worsening situation that Iraola and the defender must nip in the bud, or else Kerkez risks being the biggest positional downgrade since Rickie Lambert replaced Luis Suarez.