Saw the second half and so so impressed. Boss signing.
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Tough day for him today because Madueke was their primary outlet but I don’t think he got beaten once. We’re still not seeing much of him going forward but he was very solid today
Kerkez must have got a bollocking from his Dad in midweek for giving a goal away at Sandcastle… Seems to have worked because he was very good today
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Neither Madueke nor Elanga are considered élite threats but they are both very direct and difficult to deal with 1-1 and neither got anything out of him at all. This despite Madueke being Arsenal’s primary outlet yesterday. I think his success at keeping Elanga quiet went under the radar last week give his involvement in their first goal.
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Yeah I was really impressed with him yesterday. Maybe I should slag our players off more 
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Early days, but so far I think a lot of us, me included, misunderstood what we were getting with this fella.
But, there is also a difference to how Bournemouth used him and how we’re using him so far. There, he was more of an up and down LB. Here, he’s playing tucked in a lot. It was obvious to see from the first friendlies.
Sometimes he’s even too close to Virgil and playing it back too much towards him and Ali. We will need more variety from him, because we already see that opponents are targeting him. Mac’s return to his 100% shape at the LCM pivot might help in that zone.
The obvious strengths are more of physical nature (where Robbo declined a bit) and somewhat technical. He’s very explosive, agile, very good (last ditch) tackler, although sometimes too reactive to everything.
Would like him to mature and calm down a little bit with time.
Also, drop the hands behind the back thing when defending inside the box, please don’t go down Dimarco’s route in that aspect. You’re just off balance and there is a better way how to do it.
In a way, I almost feel sorry for Virgil that he has this erratic kid alongside him at this final stage of his career, but there you go!
We haven’t seen much from him going forward so far (due to us using him in a different way), but I actually think there’s room for improvement in both directions.
I think he’s worse going forward than we thought. It was easy just to throw him in the “great bombing forward, needs improving in defence” category because of a few great assists last season against City and Tottenham.
Our way of using him wasn’t what I expected it to be, but I also knew and kept repeating that Slot wouldn’t use both full backs attacking down the sides equally. That’s just easy to say and imagine, but so far hasn’t been the case. I don’t know whether it would change if we started playing both Ekitike and Isak. Right now, I’d say probably not.
I’m pretty sure there’s a time around the corner when we will sign one of those CB/FB type of players. I actually felt that Guehi arriving could’ve been an option for that role.
We saw last season that Slot holds his wide defenders back, Robertson really struggled (that tactical discipline isn’t his thing).
If you didn’t see how a left or right defender was going to be used under Slot you weren’t watching. He only unleashed Trent when we fell behind.
When the central midfield fell into the vertical 111 trap as we did against Arsenal in the first half he brings 1 of the wide defenders in to make a 3 at the back, Trent last year Szoboszlai against Arsenal, an option we won’t have if it’s Frimpong and Kerkez.
Kerkez is improving however I can not see the skill set our formation requires with Gakpo and Salah. We will often fall back to 111. We need players to drop back into the spaces left which isn’t happening (just look what happens when Wirtz makes a good movement and noone fills the space) Gakpo and Salah aren’t great coming in central midfield.
It’s going to be interesting to see what solution our coaching team comes up with. Gravenberch dropping back between Virgil and Konatè doesn’t look like it is, we need him further forward as a midfielder or we loose our shape.
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I think people assumed we were getting a winger who plays LB in Kerkez, especially because of some of his assists and goals last season but I think he’s actually a much closer resemblance to Robertson than, for example, Frimpong.
I think he likes defending, he’s tough and physical, loves a slide tackle, I’ve seen some excellent jockeying and delay defending from him. He’s got some improvement to make of course but I reckon he’ll prove to be an excellent defensive wing back who also provides some upside in attacking areas, rather than the other way around.
And yes I still maintain my position that he has the potential to be the best wing back in the world.
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Lot of big players go missing in these games so it’s worth noting it was his best performance.
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He had that many sprints with Madueke and co that at the final whistle he sunk down on his knees totally goosed.
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I’m intrigued in the context.
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Post it here instead of Robbo’s thread.
‘I’ll help Kerkez as much as I can… it’s a massive jump’ - Robertson
Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson says Milos Kerkez “needs to keep going and keep his confidence” after being substituted in the 38th minute against Burnley.
Kerkez was booked in the 22nd minute for simulation and head coach Arne Slot opted to replace the summer signing for vice-captain Robertson to avoid the chance of them going down to ten men.
“He [Kerkez] is only young and I think we forget that,” said the Scotsman. "You try to help them as much as you can but you want to put pressure on them and you want to play games.
"He will be the starting left-back for Liverpool in the future and it’s up to me to push him this season and help him improve.
"He just needs to keep working hard and not let this affect him - which it won’t as he’s a confident lad, and I’ll help him as much as I can.
"It’s a massive jump. I came from Hull and he’s come from Bournemouth, and it’s probably quite similar. There are a lot more eyes on you in a Liverpool jersey than at those two clubs.
"He has transitioned well. There’s a lot of information and a lot of different ways of playing, and he just needs to keep going and keep his confidence.
“I have no doubt in the future he will be a fantastic left-back for Liverpool and that’s the main thing.”
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This may be controversial but I also think he got a bit unlucky on the dive. You could see the contact coming from a mile off and it was a big surprise he somehow managed to pull out and avoid it. I dont think he was looking for it or trying to create it, more just preparing himself for the inevitable collision that then somehow didnt come and then looking like a pillock as a result
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We’ll see about that. Hopefully, but…
As for the dive, there’s nothing I can say in his defence other than don’t do it again (especially in that situation, in that way).
I’m confident he will come good with time. It will take time, as it will with a the new players. Seems to have all the attributes, but thinks to quickly, meaning hes a bit gung ho in his decision making. The dive will be an important lesson.
The positive thing is we have Robbo, who I’m still happy to see start week in week out if necessary.
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Some players need more time, some don’t. Some won’t do it even after a period of time. We have seen all of these examples in the past. It depends from player to player. I’m not dismissing Kerkez. Still getting to fully “know him” as a player and character on the outside. It’s just that I cannot be as sure as Robbo is (it’s not surprising from him to give him that support), from what I’ve seen, that I’m convinced he’s “starting LB for the next 10 years” (doesn’t even have to be that long) material for Liverpool.
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It’s worth remembering that we didn’t see anything of Robbo for months after he signed. Klopp did that thing he often did of just refusing to play a lad until he was ready - same with Fabinho.
People were speculating that both players would be sold in January.
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Moreno started that season really well (then got injured) and yes, Robbo needed a bit of time to adapt to a new level and style. But there is no rule.