2 weeks ago
10
During Liverpool's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United, Milos Kerkez was called "a nervous wreck" by Jamie Redknapp as the Hungarian defender continued to struggle on Sunday.
Kerkez, who was one of Bournemouth's most consistent and impressive performers in the Premier League last season, earned a move to Anfield over the summer. However, the 21-year-old has found it difficult to replicate his previous form in a Liverpool shirt, appearing a mere shadow of the player who made waves on the south coast as United handed the Reds their fourth consecutive defeat.
Before the post-match analysis began, United led 1-0 at half-time thanks to a goal from Bryan Mbeumo within the first two minutes. Redknapp, providing commentary for Sky Sports, singled out Kerkez during his and Roy Keane's half-time summary.
Jamie Redknapp commented: "Kerkez is very nervous. He's like a nervous wreck out there. I feel for him.
"It's almost a bit too much for him. The game is happening a bit too fast and Diallo is causing him problems. Like you've mentioned, with Mbeumo and Cunha they've gone for a different approach with a bit more pace."
Kerkez had been identified as a potential target for several months before the summer transfer window opened, with Liverpool seeking competition for Andy Robertson. However, since joining the Reds, the young player has faced criticism on multiple occasions.
Following a difficult display in Liverpool's loss to Chelsea before the international break, Kerkez drew criticism from Gary Neville, who compared him to a youth team player and raised doubts after witnessing him lose challenges that the pundit believed the defender ought to be winning.
"The boy Kerkez, to be honest with you, at this point in time, he looks like a youth-team player," he said on The Gary Neville Podcast. "I know he's a good player, but he looks like he's playing for the youth team, or the Under-21s.
"He looks so naiive; he looks like a baby out there. He's losing 50-50s with Neto!"
"He's had Premier League experience, it's not like he's come in from another country," Neville continued.
"He's got a lot of games under his belt, he's played at these grounds before, so I expected him to slot in.
"One, he's playing alongside Virgil Van Dijk, the best centre half in the world, so if you want to play in a back four, you want to play with great defenders and he is doing.
"And he's got players who work hard on that side, it's not like he's playing on the right with Salah in front of him, which is always a bit more difficult because you always get a little bit more exposed.
"But I have to say from the first ten minutes of that game against Bournemouth on the first game of the season, he's struggled."
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