Kerkez Offers Rare Bright Spot For Slot Despite Another PSV Setback
Liverpool’s latest defeat to PSV extended a worrying run of inconsistency, yet amid the wider concerns there was at least one development that could ease the workload for Arne Slot. Milos Kerkez, a figure who has attracted heavy scrutiny since arriving from Bournemouth, finally delivered signs that his transition into the Liverpool side may be gathering upward momentum.
The Hungarian’s early months on Merseyside have unfolded in stark contrast to expectations. After excelling in last season’s PFA Team of the Year, the 21-year-old was viewed as a long-term successor to Andy Robertson and a player capable of offering a different dynamic on the left. Instead, his form fluctuated sharply, and by early November the senior Scot had reclaimed the position.
Yet Slot reinstated Kerkez for the Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest and again for the Champions League meeting with PSV. While Saturday’s domestic display did little to dispel previous concerns, Wednesday night at Anfield provided a far more persuasive argument for patience.
Kerkez Performance Signals Possible Turning Point
Liverpool’s defensive landscape has been complicated by issues at centre-back and on the right, leaving Slot in urgent need of stability in at least one full-back role. Kerkez had initially been recruited to counteract Robertson’s downturn in form last season, yet instead he appeared to mirror it.
In midweek, however, he delivered his most convincing display since joining the club. Liverpool’s early vulnerability gave PSV encouragement, but Kerkez responded impressively, playing with aggression, confidence and a clarity in possession that had been largely absent from his earlier outings. He pushed high when required, contributed positively to build-up play and showed greater defensive resilience, even if not entirely flawless.
His combinations with players ahead of him – particularly down the left channel – brought much-needed balance to a side that has often struggled to establish natural width. For Slot, under pressure to resolve structural issues swiftly, the performance represented a small but important breakthrough.
Growing Influence Down Liverpool’s Left
One of Liverpool’s challenges this season has been the lack of established partnerships across the pitch. Previous cycles were defined by instinctive combinations – for example the long-standing connection down the left that once underpinned so much of the side’s tempo and pressing identity.
Kerkez and Cody Gakpo have, until now, struggled to operate with the same fluency. Their movements often appeared mismatched, and they rarely produced sustained patterns of play that unsettled opponents. Against PSV, though, there were indications of a developing understanding. Kerkez overlapped more frequently and decisively, giving Gakpo the licence to drift inside and link play. Their interchanges became Liverpool’s most reliable source of progression throughout the first half.
It remains to be seen whether Gakpo becomes the long-term occupant of the left-sided role, but for Kerkez, establishing cohesion with whoever plays ahead of him is essential. Slot’s system relies heavily on synchronised wide play, and Wednesday’s showing suggested the early groundwork may finally be paying off.
What Slot Needs Next
Liverpool’s season has reached a point where incremental progress must be capitalised upon quickly. The defeat to PSV again exposed systemic concerns, but Kerkez’s display at least hinted at a route forward in a position that has caused uncertainty for months.
If the Hungarian can maintain this level across the next block of fixtures, he may yet become a central component of Slot’s plans – and transform what has been a persistent problem into a position of strength.
