On paper, it may look like Liverpool have had a decent start to the 2025-26 season, but after their performances against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, there’s still a lot to improve.
Liverpool have made many changes to their first-team squad this summer, and while their team is now full of superstars, they’ve not been together long enough for it to make a difference just yet.
Players such as Florian Wirtz still need time to get used to the rigours of the Premier League, with Stephen Warnock even claiming that he was “struggling” against the Cherries last Friday.
Florian Wirtz controls the ball during Liverpool's Premier League match against Bournemouth at Anfield
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
However, it wasn’t only the German who performed below par in the Reds’ opening Premier League game of the season.
Milos Kerkez must prove Jamie Carragher wrong after he called him “aggressive”
Even though Milos Kerkez was one of the standout players in the top flight last term, it still feels like he needs some more time to adjust.
Last Friday’s game against Andoni Iraola’s men for Kerkez was way off the standards he set last season.
This resulted in Jamie Carragher ripping into the Hungary international and stating that he was being too “aggressive.”
“He does go flying in, he is really aggressive, you have to temper that sometimes,” he said while live on Sky Sports.
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Carragher also added: “You can see this battle going on at the back post, you just see Kerkez and Semenyo, it’s just once he [Semenyo] gets in front of him, he’s just too powerful for Kerkez.
“He’ll never get the other side of him, he just does enough there to put him off as much as he can without giving a foul away.”
Indeed, Antoine Semenyo was a tough challenge for Kerkez to face, but against Newcastle on Monday, an even tougher challenge awaits him.
Milos Kerkez must be picked to face Newcastle so he can combat the pace of Anthony Elanga
Although Kerkez seemed somewhat out of depth against his former club, it feels like he can prove Carragher wrong against Newcastle.
Last season, Anthony Elanga was one of the best wingers in the Premier League, and his move to St James’ Park proves that.
Not only does he have electric pace, but if given half a chance, he’s likely to find the back of the net.
Kerkez’s poor performance on his Anfield debut may have also had something to do with the fact that Friday’s game was the first time he’d faced his former club since making the switch to Merseyside.
As long as the left-back can manage to keep his head throughout the clash and ensure that Elanga doesn’t get past him, he can prove Carragher wrong.
Jamie Carragher pictured during his punditry duties.
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
£45million is a fairly hefty chunk of change to spend on a 21-year-old, but if Arne Slot didn’t think he was worth that much, then he wouldn’t have entered the race for him in the first place.
Here’s hoping that the Reds can keep Newcastle at bay and continue their perfect start to the 2025-26 Premier League season.