Milos Kerkez is a 21-year-old trying to settle in a side that is at odds with its identity, and Arne Slot needs to recognise he may be best suited out of the XI, for now.
You could write a lengthy list pointing to the issues Slot needs to find a solution for, with the defeat at Brentford acting as yet another exposè of the champions.
For the ninth league game in a row, Kerkez started over veteran Andy Robertson as the full-backs changed for yet another match.
For the fourth time this season, though, the Hungarian did not see out the full 90 minutes.
Slot had pointed to an element of bad luck in his forward forays, and a goal on Sunday was a timely boost, but that should not stop the head coach from being ruthless with his £40 million signing.
Confusing instruction or misused?
Kerkez’s reputation and strengths at Bournemouth were his attacking threat and overlapping runs, which regular wing partner Cody Gakpo hasn’t readily rewarded.
With his capabilities in the final third dimmed and underused, and his defensive skillset coming under outside scrutiny, you’re simultaneously left feeling Slot isn’t sure how to get the most from the 21-year-old, and Kerkez is not fully understanding what he is being asked to do.
On the eve of the trip to Brentford, Slot explained the reason Liverpool brought him to the club was that “he brings a lot of energy to the game, keeps going up and down, and he’s very good in defending the one-vs-one situations against his winger as well.
“So, defensively solid and a lot of energy making the overlaps.
“For me he’s been a bit unlucky that Cody has used mainly his biggest strength of coming inside and hitting the target, but we’ve shown Cody as well that there were a few moments that maybe playing the ball towards Milos would have been the better option.”
Unfortunately for Liverpool and Kerkez, the start of the season may be doing more harm than good.
His lack of physicality and awareness at the back post has been punished a number of times, and the demands of playing for the club appear to be weighing heavily, but Liverpool can help mitigate a knock to his confidence.
A new left-back was needed in the summer, that was never up for debate with an ageing Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas undeniably out of favour.
But Slot’s decision to utilise Kerkez as the third defender is a role more favourable to Robertson, especially while the team seek to claw their way into some semblance of form.
Virgil van Dijk has looked frustrated with how Kerkez operates and, at times, the captain appears to be thinking for the both of them, leaving him in a position of indecisiveness you do not see when the Scot is to his left.
It is a partnership that dates back to 2018, though it has been used in only 27.5 percent of minutes so far this campaign, with two starting partnerships both ending in victories.
Synergy between players needs time to develop, after all we’re only 13 games into the season (it feels much longer, I know), and Slot has every right to have faith in Kerkez.
But is he the answer as it stands?
Stable and familiar Andy Robertson
There is no requirement for Slot to label either Kerkez or Robertson as his first choice, as there are enough games to go around, but restoring the Scot is the right place to start for Slot.
His vice-captain has an established relationship with Gakpo, has a second-nature partnership with Van Dijk and, crucially, can help inject progressive movement from the backline.
The 31-year-old is not the gung-ho left-back of yesteryear, but last season he averaged 6.38 progressive passes per 90 minutes, and, as per FBref, Kerkez is averaging 4.66 this season in the Premier League.
Kerkez, per 90, manages a progressive passing distance of 193.6 yards in the league, lower than Robertson (307.1), Ibrahima Konate (338.8) and Conor Bradley (230.5), among others.
And when the Hungarian does have success behind the opposition’s backline, he has yet to show the composure required to set up a teammate, directing a simple pass to a defender or the goalkeeper instead of his open teammate.
So, while Kerkez may add youthful exuberance, the drop-off in possession between Liverpool’s two left-back options is a notable reason why the Reds’ build-up has suffered so far.
This is compounded further with Trent Alexander-Arnold no longer at the club, but Slot still has the choice to utilise Robertson in possession – he just has to name him in his XI.
Robertson can also be culpable for making a mistake (see Chelsea‘s winner), but he can add stability, aggressiveness, progressive possession, direction and predictability to a side that is becoming increasingly chaotic and confused.
The Scot is a success story when it comes to biding his time and adjusting to Liverpool’s demands, just ask Alberto Moreno, and there is no reason Kerkez cannot follow a similar path.
Slot, however, needs to recognise that Robertson is the left-back Liverpool currently need – and that means dropping Kerkez as his regular starter.
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