https://x.com/TheAnfieldWrap/status/1981662559338987771
Arne Slot on Milos Kerkez:
“Reason why we brought him in is that he’s bringing a lot of energy to the game, keeps going up and down. Very well defending one v one situations against his wingers."
"For me has been a bit unlucky that Cody has used mainly his biggest strengths of coming inside and hitting the target but we shown Cody as well there were a few moments as well were playing the ball to Milos would have been better option”
Hallelujah, better late than never I suppose.
I’ve not been able to watch every minute of every match, but from what I have seen… no. He doesn’t defend well. In fact, he has been a liability quite often, someone directly hampering the balance of the team, both defensively and when the team goes forward.
I for one hope that Robbo can have a run in the starting team from now on. It’s not that I’m wanting to give up on Kerkez, he has the time to grow into the player we hope he will be. But for the time being, he doesn’t cut it imo.
That’s really harsh. I think it was the first game he got booked for rashly diving in on a challenge but since then he’s held up really well and done so in the face of some really challenging wingers. Where he has perceived to have struggled is in his coordination with the rest of the back 4 and when we’re in possession. Those are both obviously big areas so it isnt all rosy, but in terms of pointing out what he has done well then I think its a fair call.
And of course he’s also taken a fair amount of shit for our defending when it’s actually Robbo on the pitch 
Bournemouth game a prime example, Kerkez had a right battle with Semenyo, Kerkez goes off and Semenyo scores 2.
Kerkez very rarely gets beaten 1 v 1 and if he does he normally recovers well.
I found this assessment of him pretty strange, mate. I sometimes get the feeling that Van Dijk and he don’t understand each other and I always get the feeling that Gakpo and he don’t have a clue as to how they are supposed to play with each other. 1 on 1 defending has been (the only) one area where I didn’t find Kerkez lacking.
That said, comparing his form now to his form in Bournemouth is so disheartening. Those darting runs with and without the ball, getting into the box often, putting in insane crosses from all positions… He had one such run last night and had all the time in the world to play an inviting cross, yet he played a meek one straight into 'keeper’s hands. That moment showed me more about lack of self-confidence from him than anything else I’ve seen so far. It’s quite likely the same with the other lads as well.
Watching him last night was painful.
His biggest issue was running and just running. He leaves gaps, spaces, disregarding positions. I think this can improve over time but I hope it’s sooner rather than later. Right now, he is just punching above his weight in a top level team
At least the other 10 players are all pulling their weights in this team and flying….and the subs, what a difference they all made when they came on.
Oh yeah, we have a number of underperforming players in an undeperforming team.
This was different, painful from watching a player with such limited aspects of his game point of view.
And standing still.
At one point, Curtis moved wide left, and Kerkez just stood next to him.
He got a goal, which bodes well, but teams are targetting him due to his lack of height and struggles against physicality.
Joe Gomez would be better fit at (inverted) left back, whilst Robertson can play once a week. Kerkez can then work on some things in training before coming back into the team,
I’m not even sure about this theory that Robbo can’t play more than once a week. I know it was the case with Matip near his end with us, because Klopp said so. Robbo is certainly past his peak, but I believe with less football lately, he could potentially come into the side and stay in for a few games in a row. Slot talked about Kerkez’s ability to go up and down, but that’s not really how we’ve been using him all the time. Or there is also a lack of better understanding (which would be understandable since he’s new and still relatively young).
Kirkez has gone from playing for a side who got attacked which let him rampage into the empty space on turn over. Now he plays for a side where teams sit back and he doesn’t have the IQ yet to work against this.
Sadly he was miles better than Mo. How the Moghty have fallen 
Kerkez headers won/lost per game this season Premier League only, won 1.7 lost 1.2
Robbo last season per game won 1.3 lost 1.
So actually slightly better stats but it is a small sample.
He hasn’t been targeted aerially., just that teams put crosses in and apart from the mess up against Newcastle he has done ok at the back post.
He could do very little to stop Brentfords 1st goal as their player reacted quickly with his strongest foot before he could get a head to it.
When you field a back 4 made of Szoboszlai, Konate, vDijk, Kerkez and you build up in a shape of 3 with Szobo tucked in as the RCB instead of Kerkez.
Speaks volumes. 
Limited.
Indeed.
He shouldn’t be used as a centre back in the build up anyway, he’s a wide player. Not sure what the issue is there.
I’m yet to see quality from him even when he’s wider.
The shape we saw yesterday with Szobo (I hope he doesn’t get tired of this shifting around soon) tucking in as a RCB, whereas he could’ve come infield to be the extra midfielder, brings even more question about our full back choices this summer.