Liverpool’s “nervous wreck” is at risk of turning into the following Darwin Nunez

Fulham substitute Harrison Reed’s outrageous last-gasp objective to steal victory away from Liverpool summed up Arne Slot‘s facet’s season.

Although Cody Gakpo had scored what he thought was the winner moments earlier, bundling dwelling following a crisp cross from substitute Jeremie Frimpong, Liverpool had been unstuck by a surprise objective, marking successive attracts within the Premier League.

In truth, the champions have been properly beneath the anticipated normal this season, and although their unbeaten run stretched to 9 in all competitions, there’s a lot work to do for a laboured and uninspiring facet.

Liverpool had the lion’s share of the ball, and as Slot asserted, Fulham hardly ever examined Alisson’s objective. However this can be a group shorn of confidence and initiative and creativity, and it confirmed at Craven Cottage.

What went fallacious for Liverpool at Fulham

Slot spoke post-match of the features made in latest weeks, however there isn’t any query that Liverpool followers are fed up, with their facet missing a lot of their earlier sparkle and coherence as an elite attacking pressure.

Liverpool are usually not solely duller than earlier than however blunter too. And that having spent one thing near £450m in the summertime switch window, breaking the British switch file not as soon as however twice by offers for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

The boarding that props up this undertaking is creaking, and shortly it would splinter. In equity, Liverpool did enhance. The second half gave rise to extra function and drive, however the Merseysiders nonetheless solely created an xG whole of 1.45 throughout the competition, with their makeshift frontline unable to provide and maintain fluent offensive soccer.

Reed’s gorgeous strike may have left the guests feeling relatively aggrieved, however that is the most recent instance of inefficient attacking play, and a inventive unit that’s unable to focus and direct itself.

Slot has sought to determine extra management at Liverpool, however this has come on the expense of inventive expression. Nonetheless, there are a number of who’ve been singled out as struggling to attain the form of stability and modulation within the beginning line-up, with one even branded Liverpool’s new model of Darwin Nunez.

Liverpool have discovered their new Darwin Nunez

Jamie Carragher could be a contentious on-line presence at the very best of instances, and the Sky Sports activities pundit proved this as soon as once more by claiming earlier than Liverpool’s contest in west London that Milos Kerkez is “like having Darwin Nunez at left-back“.

This was a harsh twist on earlier effusions laid on Trent Alexander-Arnold, however there’s one thing to be mentioned of the Hungarian’s erraticness and lack of poise down the left channel, but to deliver all of it collectively after finishing a £45m switch from Bournemouth.

Pundit Jamie Redknapp additionally branded the 22-year-old a “nervous wreck” earlier within the marketing campaign, after Manchester United scored a shock victory over Slot’s facet at Anfield.

Whereas he is improved alongside along with his group from a defensive standpoint in latest weeks, Kerkez stays a combined bag, missing function by his playmaking. This was clear after his efficiency at Fulham.

Liverpool World gave him a 6/10 match score and acknowledged his succesful defending, however Kerkez flattered to deceive from a extra attacking slant, failing with every of his three tried crosses and unable to create a single likelihood for a facet crying out for extra inspiration, as per Sofascore. Furthermore, the 64-touch expertise did not even try a dribble or have a shot. He did, at the least, win all of his duels, together with a solitary deal with.

Taking a look at how he compares this season towards his PFA Workforce of the Yr-awarded 2024/25 marketing campaign with Bournemouth, it is clear to see that he is struggling to provide the identical stage.

Kerkez has to do extra, but it surely’s simple that he has been hamstrung considerably by Slot’s teaching, extra conservative to be much less porous in latest weeks. He is aggressive, however that aggression should be managed and moulded into one thing that may assist Liverpool penetrate by robust defences.

It is labored, however Kerkez stays a considerably unconvincing prospect, and he must develop the completeness that evaded Nunez all through the Uruguayan’s three phrases on Merseyside.

All instructed, this can be a younger participant who has stepped right into a system that has did not click on collectively this season. Enhancements are wanted, however with time, there’s hope that Kerkez will make the mandatory features and begin drawing extra optimistic feedback.

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