Milos Kerkez Faces an Uphill Battle to Establish Himself as Liverpool’s First-Choice Left-Back

At just 21 years old, Milos Kerkez has secured what many would consider his dream transfer to Liverpool, the current champions of the Premier League.

Having been nominated for the 2024/25 Men’s PFA Young Player of the Year award, the young talent was enthusiastic during his initial interviews as a Liverpool player.

“It’s a huge honour for me, a privilege to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world. I’m just incredibly happy and excited,” he expressed.

“After this, I’ll head home to my hometown to enjoy a few days off, but I can’t wait to return, don the training kit, and start the preparations for the upcoming season.”

Kerkez rose to prominence with some impressive displays for Bournemouth over the last couple of seasons.

Need for Improved Goal and Assist Statistics

During his time on the south coast, the Serbian, who represents the Hungarian national team, has made 74 appearances for the Cherries, starting 65 of those matches.

Renowned for his capacity to push forward and contribute to the attack, his tally of two goals and five assists across two seasons will need to be significantly improved if he aims to thrive under Arne Slot.

By comparison, the current left-back, Andrew Robertson, managed to score three goals and achieved a considerably higher assist count with 12 in the same timeframe.

All of “Robbo’s” goals came during the 2023/24 season, showcasing a shooting accuracy of 77.8% along with a 25% conversion rate, whereas Kerkez’s pair of goals last season was accompanied by a less impressive shot accuracy of 45.5% and a conversion rate of just 10.5%.

Should the plan be for Kerkez to unseat the Scottish captain, there’s a convincing argument that he still has some ground to cover before achieving that goal.

For starters, Robertson’s lowest passing completion rate over the last two seasons is an admirable 84.1%, compared to Kerkez’s highest at 83.1%.

Robertson has maintained a consistent passing range, landing in the mid to high 80s for his accuracy, while Kerkez has typically remained around the mid-70s.

It can be argued that Liverpool have inherently performed better in terms of passing compared to Bournemouth, and once Kerkez acclimatises to this heightened standard, he can be expected to boost his numbers.

Nonetheless, it should be noted that Andoni Iraola has managed the Cherries with an impressive, attractive style of football in the top flight.

Kerkez Thrives on Physicality

The primary focus for both players remains their defensive prowess, and with 62 tackles won from 113 attempted during the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, Kerkez’s effort is commendable and stacks up well against Robertson’s 73 from 127 attempts.

Kerkez’s defensive contributions are further highlighted by his 71 interceptions and 69 headed clearances, where he outshines Robertson, who has recorded 59 interceptions and 52 headed clearances. This defensive skill set may be a key factor in why Liverpool were keen to sign him.

While one cannot question Robertson’s aggressive and competitive nature, it is evident that although Kerkez needs to refine various aspects of his game, he has no issues with the physical demands, and with the guidance of Liverpool’s fitness team, he will only grow stronger as he approaches his prime.

He’s also been engaged in more one-on-one confrontations than the 31-year-old (533 to 481) and has a better win ratio, taking home 287 wins against 246 losses; yet, his 291 ball recoveries fall short of Robertson’s 434.

Starting with Robertson Seems Logical for Arne Slot

Depending on Arne Slot’s strategy for the upcoming season, it would be sensible for him to initially rely on his tried-and-true players, giving Kerkez motivation to challenge Robertson’s position.

In striving to achieve that, Robertson will need to maintain high standards to secure his starting role, knowing that the younger Kerkez is ready to step in at any moment.

Kerkez’s arrival may also complicate matters for another Liverpool player in terms of first-team opportunities.

Tsimikas Facing Exit?

Robertson’s deputy, Konstantinos ‘Kostas’ Tsimikas, has accumulated only 2,292 minutes over 42 matches in the past two seasons, which is less than half of Kerkez’s 5,914 and significantly fewer than Robertson’s 7,607 minutes.

Given this, it seems unlikely that the 29-year-old Greek international, who has often delivered solid performances when called upon, will remain at Anfield much longer.

If Tsimikas departs this summer or in the next transfer window, it will result in a direct contest between Kerkez and Robertson for the starting left-back role next season.

This looming battle is sure to be intriguing for fans…