Alan Pardew delivers blunt verdict on Milos Kerkez’s troublesome Liverpool begin
Former Premier League supervisor Alan Pardew has questioned Milos Kerkez’s early-season kind at Liverpool, suggesting the younger full-back is struggling to adapt to life at Anfield following his high-profile transfer from Bournemouth.
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Kerkez’s robust transition to Liverpool
Signed in the summertime for a reported £40 million, the Hungarian worldwide arrived with excessive expectations after a powerful spell on the south coast. Recognized for his attacking aptitude and boundless power, Kerkez was seen as a long-term resolution for Liverpool’s left facet.
Nonetheless, the 21-year-old’s early months underneath Arne Slot have been removed from easy. His efficiency within the current 3-2 defeat to Brentford typified the inconsistencies in his recreation — scoring a well-taken opener earlier than enduring a troublesome night defensively towards a disciplined facet led by Keith Andrews.
Observers have famous that Kerkez seems much less snug in a Liverpool system that calls for tactical restraint fairly than the liberty he loved at Bournemouth. The defensive expectations, notably underneath the microscope of a brand new supervisor and a fragile backline, have highlighted some uncooked edges in his recreation.
Photograph: IMAGO
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Pardew claims Kerkez has been “came upon” defensively
Talking to talkSPORT, Alan Pardew provided a candid evaluation of Kerkez’s struggles, claiming the teenager has been “came upon” in his defensive tasks. Pardew’s feedback got here after observing Liverpool’s defeat in West London, a end result that prolonged their worrying begin to the season.
“You’ve bought Kerkez, who actually is struggling in that Liverpool shirt,” Pardew mentioned. “He got here from Bournemouth the place he had an excellent season, primarily by way of his attacking play. However he’s been came upon just a little bit defensively, and I assumed he struggled once more the opposite night time.”
Pardew additionally pointed to the instability behind the backline, referencing Liverpool’s goalkeeping modifications and defensive lapses as contributing components to the staff’s collective unease.
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Defensive chemistry underneath scrutiny
It isn’t simply Kerkez who has confronted criticism. Pardew urged that senior defenders Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate haven’t been offering the management or construction anticipated of them. The previous Crystal Palace supervisor remarked that the pair “don’t take care of one another” and hinted at a lack of knowledge inside the defensive unit.
“The important thing to a again 4,” Pardew defined, “is that centre-backs shield their full-back and one another. The left-sided centre-half takes care of the left-back and his accomplice. That’s the way you construct a strong line. In the meanwhile, neither of them are doing that, and that’s a large drawback for Liverpool.”
Such remarks underline a wider subject for Arne Slot’s facet — a defence that seems disjointed and susceptible. With communication seemingly missing, the Reds’ usually dependable backline has appeared something however safe.
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Slot faces important interval in shaping Kerkez’s growth
For Kerkez, the approaching months signify a check of adaptability and psychological resilience. The 21-year-old stays considered one of Europe’s most promising younger defenders, and few doubt his expertise. But, the transition from Bournemouth to Liverpool’s high-pressure surroundings requires greater than technical means — it calls for persistence, belief, and tactical self-discipline.
Arne Slot can be conscious that the Hungarian’s growth might show pivotal in Liverpool’s wider rebuilding challenge. A participant as soon as lauded for his dynamism should now refine his defensive consciousness to thrive on the highest stage. If Slot can harness his potential whereas stabilising the defence, Kerkez might but grow to be an integral determine at Anfield.
However for now, as Pardew bluntly noticed, Kerkez’s Liverpool story stays considered one of early wrestle fairly than prompt success.