Liverpool’s difficult season has sparked criticism from plenty of pundits in recent weeks, and now Micah Richards has questioned whether Milos Kerkez is coping with life at Anfield.
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The Hungary international arrived from Bournemouth last summer with huge expectations after an outstanding campaign on the south coast, but the 22-year-old has endured a mixed first year under Arne Slot.
Micah Richards questions Milos Kerkez form
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Richards admitted the left-back has not looked anywhere near the same player Liverpool supporters expected to see.
The former England defender said: “Kerkez has been a shadow of the player he was at Bournemouth. I don’t know if that’s pressure. I don’t know if that’s system.”
It’s another concern for Slot after Liverpool’s chaotic defeat at Manchester United, where defensive issues once again cost us badly.
Richards had already criticised several of Liverpool’s summer additions, claiming the signings overall “have not worked”, while also questioning the tactical setup under the Dutchman.
The pundit argued Liverpool are now “too slow”, “too passive” and “too easy to play against”, which could partly explain why Kerkez has struggled to settle consistently despite playing regularly.
Robertson debate continues at Liverpool
Kerkez was immediately thrown into the starting side after his £40m arrival from Bournemouth, and there were periods earlier in the campaign where many supporters called for Andy Robertson to return more often.
The Scotland captain has still shown signs of quality this season, even if though this is his last campaign at Anfield.
Former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders recently insisted Robertson remains the stronger all-round player right now.
Saunders explained: “He’s better than Kerkez, in my opinion… Kerkez is trying to get there and at the minute, I think it’s costing Liverpool games.”
That may sound harsh on the Hungarian, though there’s also context that can’t be ignored.
Kerkez is only 22, joined a struggling side dealing with injuries throughout the squad and has already played 45 games in all competitions this season.
Liverpool’s problems clearly run far deeper than one left-back, but Richards’ comments will still raise eyebrows given Kerkez will be Slot’s long-term first-choice option moving forward.
How Dow you descriped Liverpool of Klopp? Would the breathtaking, Hard working, explosive, fast.. Do iit To you? I think. And what about slots?, lazy, limp biscuit, slow, neat and tidy? And Adam Wharton… A great player he is, absolutely is.. But the thing is.. We already have 2 Adam Wharton In our midfield already In Macalkister and Gravenberch. What we need is Rodri kind, Hard working, danger sniffing midfielder….. It is a HUGE DIFFERENCE… HUGE!
Exactly we need a proper no 6 like rodri or caicedo and also someone like milner or Henderson not to technical but act as the engine of the midfield….plus a new cb…..the board should not be in a hurry to fill salah’s position this summer….if everyone is fit and in sync we are one of the best teams in Europe……florian needs to take more shots….Gakpo should be less predictable….and find a way to balance attack anad defence…
I think Slot has arrived and players have disimproved. Luiz form at Bayern at Bayern an example. McAllister form plunged. Harvey Elliot, Curtis Jones. He got 450 million last summer . No Liverpool manager has received such support. Looks like he’ll get same support again this year.
You cannot buy your way out of trouble. No explanation for this years appalling performances. Konate should have just been let go for all his bellyaching. To miss Guehi when they shoukd have left Issk in Ncastke was all poor poor descicion making
He cannot inspire players and it concerns me FSG cannot see this