Liverpool performed what champions do best against Newcastle United, winning all three points, but Arne Slot will also have considered his lineup selection for the Arsenal game (August 31).
Rio Ngumoha, 16, came off the bench and scored a thrilling 90+10th-minute victory against the ten-man Magpies, who were far superior throughout. Slot’s men managed to win, and while that was cause for celebration, he recognized his guys needed to improve.
The reigning champions will next face last season’s runners-up Arsenal, with the two already leading the table alongside Tottenham Hotspur. Mikel Arteta’s Gunners shone in a 5-0 victory over Leeds United, and their offense will most certainly cause Slot’s defence further issues.
Arne Slot should wield the axe.
Arsenal crushed newly promoted Leeds, and unlike Newcastle, they don’t have a wantaway striker dilemma. Instead, they may depend upon Viktor Gyokeres, last year’s European top scorer, who scored his first goal for the club last weekend.
Bukayo Saka was also a pace threat, but he will be sidelined for the next few weeks owing to a hamstring injury. However, the North Londoners have depth and could rely on Noni Madueke, who is a nuisance owing to his agility.
That’s why Slot may have been given a dilemma ahead of the encounter with Arteta’s league leaders, as Milos Kerkez struggled against Newcastle. The Hungarian, who had a 5/10 rating, battled against Anthony Elanga and was easily outmuscled by Bruno Guimaraes for the Brazilian’s header, which made it 2-1.
Kerkez joined Liverpool from Bournemouth for £40 million earlier this summer, following a fantastic season. However, his performances thus far have not left much to be desired, demonstrating insufficient physicality in a backline that includes Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk.
Jamie Carragher gave a grim verdict about Kerkez’s start.
Kerkez’s dismal performances have not gone unnoticed, as Jamie Carragher was harshly critical of his performance against Newcastle. On Monday Night Football, the Sky Sports analyst stated, “Kerkez has had a really bad start to his Liverpool career. He struggled against Bournemouth in his debut game, and he was worried.
The 21-year-old is still maturing, but he will need to swiftly find his footing at Anfield if he is to remain a starter for a club trying to defend their Premier League title.
Carragher blamed himself for failing to cope with Elanga and being easily beaten to the ball by Guimaraes, saying, “He went up against Elanga today, which was difficult, but this isn’t enough. You merely need to head the ball. “He’s almost trying to stop the player.”
The Liverpool icon said, “That’s really, very bad. He’s not the biggest, but you’ve got to jump and challenge in that position.
Surprisingly, Kerkez won seven of his nine aerial duels, but not against Guimaraes. He was extremely wasteful with the ball, failing to connect with his man on any of his five long ball attempts and one cross.
Experienced Andy Robertson should be given a start.
Slot can still rely on Andy Robertson, who has years of experience battling for titles and has kept some of the Premier League’s finest attackers quiet. He appears to be playing a supporting role this season, but using his experience in such a high-pressure game could be the key against Arsenal.
The 31-year-old is a leader who has established himself as one of the most respected full-backs in English football. He is unafraid of pressure and has demonstrated the effectiveness of his ideas.
Robertson was obviously not at his best last season, but Kerkez’s performances should prompt Slot to rotate and relieve the strain on the Hungarian. Van Dijk and Konate, both of whom have had bad seasons, may feel more at ease next to their long-time Scottish teammates.
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