One position has been proving a cause for concern for Andoni Iraola, and a former Red reckons he knows the solution
Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid CF and Alejandro Balde of FC Barcelona during the Spanish League, LaLiga EA Sports, football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Spotify Camp Nou on October 25, 2026
Alejandro Balde's minutes have been limited at Barcelona(Image: Europa Press via Getty Images)
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Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy reckons they should make a move for Manchester United transfer target Alejandro Balde. The Barcelona left-back looks set to depart the Nou Camp next year.
He was linked with a move to the Premier League in the summer as United weighed up bolstering their defensive ranks. But he ultimately stayed put to fight for his place under Hansi Flick, which hasn't gone to plan.
The seven-time Spain international, 23, has made just three La Liga appearances so far this season. And Murphy thinks the Reds would be wise to pounce.
He told Betarades.gr: "I think Balde could be great for Liverpool because he's a super talent and he's also got that experience of being at a huge football club with that expectation. Balde's a really good player.
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"There's lots of good players out there and Liverpool will be scouring the world. I think the most important thing is trying to bring somebody in who doesn't make you guess whether he can deal with the pressure of a big club."
Left-back has been something of a problem position for Andoni Iraola. Milos Kerkez was signed for £40m during Arne Slot's rebuild as the long-term replacement to Andy Robertson.
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Milos Kerkez of Liverpool
Kerkez hasn't impressed as hoped(Image: Getty Images)
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But he's yet to make the position his own, with Kostas Tsimikas rotating with him this campaign. Murphy says you can't knock Kerkez's work rate, but he could do with adding an element of calm to his game.
Addressing the Hungarian's inconsistency, the BBC pundit continued: "I know he's trying really hard and you can see it in his energy that he cares, and that's a great start. He cares for the shirt and he's working really hard to try and make it happen.
"He just lacks composure and quality in the final third when he gets there. Too often his final pass or his cross isn't good enough. He doesn't have the composure of an Andy Robertson, and to be fair to him, you are filling the boots of arguably one of the best left-backs Liverpool's ever had.
"I think the lack of quality at times is due to the fact he's very fast. He's very much 100 miles an hour. I'm surprised they're not working with him more to slow him down in those areas and to just calm himself.
"Now it wouldn't be as bad if he was brilliant defensively, but he's struggling defensively as well. His positional play is sometimes a bit off, he's a bit erratic in terms of diving in or getting beat.
"He likes jumping into people. It's a dilemma for Liverpool, and I think one that they'll definitely be looking at and trying to address, because not every signing works out."