Liverpool have won each of their first two games this season, but questions are being asked about their performances.
The Reds kicked off the new campaign against Bournemouth at home. Arne Slot’s men seemed to be in control after going 2-0 up, but the Cherries levelled the game thanks to a brace from Antoine Semenyo.
Liverpool ended up winning that game late on, and the same happened when they faced Newcastle United on Monday night.
The Premier League champions once again had a two-goal advantage, this time against 10 men. However, the Toon came back to make it 2-2 late on, but once again, Liverpool managed to win it in the end.
The win is the most important thing, but Shearer is concerned about the performances of Liverpool and one of their players.
Alan Shearer says Milos Kerkez has been ‘really poor’ for Liverpool this season
Liverpool signed Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth this summer in a £40 million deal.
The Hungarian was one of the best left-backs in the Premier League last season, and he was linked with a move to several top clubs in England and abroad.
Liverpool ended up winning the race for Kerkez, and fans at Anfield have been really excited to see what he can do under Slot.
However, the defender didn’t have a great game against Bournemouth, and he wasn’t at his best on Monday night either against Newcastle United.
Alan Shearer, who watched Kerkez on TV on the opening day and then live at St James’ Park, believes that the Hungary international has been really poor.
He said on the Rest is Football podcast: “Liverpool were really poor, though. I know it’s very, very early, and I know they’ve got new players, but defensively, they are all over the place.
“Kerkez had another really poor game. Salah didn’t look his normal self, and they couldn’t get Wirtz into the game. I know they’ve got a great mentality and they won the game, and that is a huge positive for them.
“But there are also plenty of negatives – how they were dominated by 10-man Newcastle in the second half, the way they were beaten for Bruno’s goal, Kerkez was far too weak at that far post.
“They’ve got a lot to work on, Liverpool, to get back.”
Milos Kerkez reacts while playing for Liverpool
Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Micah Richards explains why Milos Kerkez is struggling at Liverpool
Joining a team like Liverpool from Bournemouth is not easy, and Kerkez is learning that the hard way.
The 21-year-old has had a few lapses of concentration at the back, and he was at fault for Bruno Guimaraes’ goal at St James’ Park.
Micah Richards, who was a full-back himself back in the day, has identified the problem – he thinks Kerkez is trying harder than he needs to.
He said on the same podcast: “Kerkez is the one I thought would come in, having played Premier League football before and was so good for Bournemouth up and down, but he just looks like he’s trying a little bit too hard at the moment.
“He’s going into challenges all or nothing, and he’s leaving space behind him. I think it’s a problem that they will fix, but they need to fix it fast.”