Milos Kerkez - Welcome to Liverpool FC

[Exiled_red]

Fair point about the league experience - however, he is clearly playing a different role to what h'es done before, which to be honest doesn't make a ton of sense to me

He made his reputation at Bournemouth as a flying fullback with the engine to get up and down the flank and the technical ability to deliver high quality crosses.

We haven't seen that at all this season, even against teams where we are dominating the ball.

I'm not sure if that's because we are too open defensively so he doesn't feel comfortable getting forward, or tactical tweaks from the opposition to prevent him getting the ball in space in the attacking third. Or it's a deliberate decision for Kerkez to play a different role aka a 3rd CB in the build up, which would then beg the question why we bought him

So essentially I'm a bit confused, which makes me feel his underwhelming start is not all on Kerkez

I guess when he was bombing forward and Bournemouth there were more defensive minded players able to fill in behind him, here we have a more attack minded group of players so there is probably more responsibility for him to consider when to go forward and to ensure that if a move breaks down he can get back quickly.

[danperkins]

Yeah he definitely got forward more and had that cover. Macca being way way off hasn't helped but this is when a top quality specialist DM makes perfect sense.

[Sus]

I guess when he was bombing forward and Bournemouth there were more defensive minded players able to fill in behind him, here we have a more attack minded group of players so there is probably more responsibility for him to consider when to go forward and to ensure that if a move breaks down he can get back quickly.

We used to have that exact model in place when TAA was in the final third - usually Hendo shifting right to cover him, and Gini (?) covering left when peak Robbo used to go flying up the left

What's stopping us doing that now? We clearly bought both Kerkez and Frimpong to provide the width

[danperkins]

We used to have that exact model in place when TAA was in the final third - usually Hendo shifting right to cover him, and Gini (?) covering left when peak Robbo used to go flying up the left

What's stopping us doing that now? We clearly bought both Kerkez and Frimpong to provide the width

absolutely. I think that's why most of us are a bit perplexed as to why we are not playing to their strengths as that's surely why we bought them in the first place? We need width desperately, Mo & Gakpo do not provide that, drop the shoulder, cut inside, can't beat a man spo pass it backwards, sideways or do a hopeful cross. We are too narrow, too predictable & too easy to play against ...everyone can see it. I think Kenneth said it in this or ones of the threads & it's spot on, Slot needs to stick or twist, either play them or don't play them, this in out, in out stuff does us no favours & if you play them.. play to their strengths surely. A bit of width might do wonders for the likes of are creative players like Wirtz who is struggling and under pressure to perform & that's extra bit of space could be the making of him to show his stuff.

It's going to be very interesting and telling what Slot does when we play our next game, I really hope it's not the same oul same oul.

[Harv]

Perkins has shown his hand here. Chips are all in on Kerkez as the new whipping boy.

[Slinky Skills]

He's definitely the new whipping boy for sure.

[fidget]

Come on - people are just concerned,anxious, worried and in fear.
They should just count themselves unlucky they don't support one of the vast majority of teams that never win anything.

[Sus]

Perkins has shown his hand here. Chips are all in on Kerkez as the new whipping boy.

I don't think that's fair - he's just saying we don't seem to playing to the strengths of both Kerkez and Frimpong at the moment, which is reasonable in my opinion

[Exiled_red]

We used to have that exact model in place when TAA was in the final third - usually Hendo shifting right to cover him, and Gini (?) covering left when peak Robbo used to go flying up the left

What's stopping us doing that now? We clearly bought both Kerkez and Frimpong to provide the width

The issue is with getting to know his teammates and his teammates getting to know him, at Bournemouth perhaps he didn't have to think about when to go and when to stay as much because he was part of a more defensive minded setup. Here clearly both our fullbacks and our DM can't bomb forward at the same time maybe two out of the three can in some situations, maybe only one can at others I think it is about building up relationships with the players around him (DM, opposite full back, wide player in front of him) as to when he can go, what areas of the pitch he can go into and who is covering

[Doc_Piptorious]

He's definitely the new whipping boy for sure.

Nah Perkins has been the whipping boy for some time

[Paul12]

Nah Perkins has been the whipping boy for some time

I thought he was into smacking.

[SB]

I thought he was into smacking, whips & chains & stuff .

[danperkins]

Nah Perkins has been the whipping boy for some time

[Buzzo]

Slot mentioned in his PC that at times Gakpo has cut inside when playing Kerkez in was the better ball, and that this has been illustrated to Gakpo. Chemistry in these partnerships is hard to gain. It takes time.

[Kenneth]

He was very good last night against 2 wingers who've looked very dangerous this year. He got skinned once by Saka, but apart from that his defending was excellent. Man marked them nice and tightly and got a foot in when needed.