From Hungary: Why Milos Kerkez is struggling under Arne Slot at Liverpool

Milos Kerkez’s difficult first season at Liverpool has been put down to a tactical mismatch rather than a lack of ability, with a former Hungary international suggesting Arne Slot is using the defender in a way that does not suit his strengths.

The left-back arrived at Anfield in the summer as part of Liverpool’s major rebuild, but his performances have fallen well short of expectations, leading to growing scrutiny over both player and role.

Liverpool moved quickly to sign Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth, paying €46.9m to secure a player widely viewed as the long-term successor to Andy Robertson.

So far, that investment has not delivered. The energetic, confident full-back who impressed on the south coast has rarely been seen at Anfield, replaced instead by a hesitant figure who has struggled with confidence and consistency.

Those issues have resulted in Kerkez being rotated out of the starting XI, with Arne Slot often turning back to Robertson in an attempt to stabilise Liverpool’s defensive balance.

Former Hungary international Vilmos Sebők believes the problem is not Kerkez’s ability, but how he is being asked to play.

Speaking to Blikk, Sebők explained that Kerkez’s role at Liverpool is fundamentally different to the one that made him stand out under Andoni Iraola.

“At Bournemouth, under Iraola, he had to run a lot on the edge of the pitch,” Sebők said.
“Slot is not asking him to do that. He has to adapt to the opponents’ play, do his part in running the ball and passing. That is not one of his strengths.

“But in recent matches it has been clear that when he gets into the area, his game also improves.”

Kerkez thrived in a system that encouraged aggressive overlaps, direct running and constant pressure down the flank. At Liverpool, he has been asked to play with greater positional discipline, contribute more in build-up phases, and adapt his movement to different opponents.

That shift has limited his natural attacking instincts and exposed weaknesses in his distribution and decision-making — areas that were less prominent in Bournemouth’s more vertical approach.

Much will depend on whether Slot adapts Kerkez’s role or continues to prioritise control and structure from his full-backs. With Liverpool still searching for defensive consistency, opportunities may remain limited unless Kerkez proves he can meet those tactical demands.

However, given the size of the investment and Kerkez’s age profile, it remains too early to draw firm conclusions. A clearer picture is likely to emerge as Slot’s system becomes more established and Liverpool’s squad settles into his long-term vision.

Is Milos Kerkez being misused at Liverpool — or does he need to adapt quickly to justify his €46.9m price tag?