Christian Ziege has defended under-fire Liverpool stars Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez
Former Liverpool defender Christian Ziege and Reds full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez
Former Liverpool defender Christian Ziege and Reds full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez(Image: Getty Images)
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Christian Ziege knows a thing or two about the demands expected of a player at Liverpool. And what can happen if you do not manage to reach them.
The German joined the Reds in a controversial £5.5m switch from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2000 after they matched a release clause in his contract. They were later fined £20,000 by the FA in March 2002 for having made an illegal approach for the player, while Ziege himself was fined £10,000.
Yet by this point, his Liverpool career was already long since over after the left-back lasted just a solitary season at Anfield.
While he was a member of the Reds’ treble-winning side under Gerard Houllier, and also scored in their penalty shootout win over Birmingham City in the League Cup final, injuries and a struggle to recapture his best form saw him sold to Tottenham Hotspur in a £4.5m switch after just one season.
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In total, he made 32 appearances for Liverpool, returning two goals and six assists. Yet he started just 20 times and only played 16 times in the Premier League for the club, while he was not included in the matchday squads for the FA Cup and UEFA Cup final victories over Arsenal and Alaves.
Jamie Carragher ultimately established himself as first-choice at left-back under Houllier that season, with Ziege instead seemingly unsuited to the side given his more attacking instincts as a natural wing-back.
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You could argue that something similar is happening at Anfield now 25 years later, with both Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez struggling to produce their best form since joining the Reds in the summer of 2025.
The Dutchman has struggled with injuries throughout since first moving to the Premier League from Bayer Leverkusen. Having shone in Germany under Liverpool legend Xabi Alonso as a right wing-back, he has struggled to adjust to a more traditional right-back role under both Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola.
Meanwhile, Kerkez has also failed to convince on the opposing flank, with the Reds’ transition following the departures of the long-serving Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson proving to be a challenging one.
But while Ziege was moved on after just one season at Anfield, he has urged his former club to remain patient with both Frimpong and Kerkez.
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Defending the under-fire pair, the German insists both players have what it takes to turn around their fortunes for Liverpool as he hit back at their critics.
“The full-back role is one of the most demanding positions in modern football,” Ziege told BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest Champions League odds. “You're expected to push forward, cross, and support attack, while also being a top-class defender against skilful, fast wingers.
“It's a really tough position, so people shouldn't be overly critical. I don't view Frimpong or Kerkez negatively at all, they both have what it takes.
“Frimpong can provide a huge attacking boost for Liverpool, and Kerkez is a solid, reliable full-back.
“Both are good options, it’s not time to think about replacing them, they need to be backed.”
While Ziege has called for Frimpong and Kerkez to be shown support and given the opportunity to turn things around at Anfield, he has conceded his own move to Liverpool was a mistake.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Ronald Araujo of Liverpool celebrates after the Premier League 2026/27 match between Liverpool FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on October 25, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Ronald Araujo celebrates after Liverpool's win over Brighton (Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Recalling the transfer in 2017, he said: "It was really a big mess and I didn’t like it at all. It was a bad time, I don’t like to speak about that move.
"I made the wrong decision. Liverpool, a massive club with a massive stadium and history. But unfortunately I had some problems there, problems with the manager. He never talked to me. There was no relationship.
"I was training hard and I asked all the assistant coaches, and my team-mates. ‘What am I doing wrong? What can I do better? Do I have to train more?’.
“Everybody said, ‘no, you’re doing everything you should do and you’re training well’. He never told me (why I wasn’t playing). There was no relationship between him as a manager and me as a player.
"I realised it was a bad move because I really enjoyed my time playing for Boro. Liverpool were in the UEFA Cup, which we ended up winning that year. We won the FA Cup and the League Cup, and qualified for the Champions League, so it was a great season.
"However, it was the wrong decision, football-wise. I didn’t play enough... I didn’t even get on the bench for the UEFA Cup final in Dortmund and that was a tough one to take – but that’s football."