Milos Kerkez’s clear indication that he wants to play for an “elite club” will not have gone unnoticed at Liverpool, nor will Andy Robertson ’s public outlook on his situation.
The Scotland captain claimed during the international break that he feels he has many years ahead of him as first-choice left-back for the Reds, however, his performance against Greece underlined why so many questions remain about his future.
If Kerkez is set to be Liverpool’s next left-back, he would mark a distinct departure from Robertson and offer a more attacking presence from deep positions. That it comes as Liverpool is considering Jeremie Frimpong as an option to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back hints at how this side will evolve from the Jurgen Klopp era to the Arne Slot team.
But at left-back, there are clear advantages to Kerkez based on this season’s stats. Both he and Robertson have started in over 80 percent of their club’s Premier League matches this term (Kerkez in them all) so a comparison of the numbers gives an interesting insight.
The Bournemouth left-back has provided seven goal involvements (compared to zero for Robertson from a higher expected goals and assists) and has made 74 positive ball carries to Robertson’s 54. Kerkez also produces more shots per 90, more goal creating actions and has attempted 40 take-ons. In contrast, Robertson has 13 this season.
It’s clear, even on the eye, how impressive Kerkez is when it comes to driving in possession, as his outstanding recent assist against Tottenham Hotspur highlighted that. He’s a more dynamic, instinctive player than his Liverpool counterpart.
(Image: Getty Images)
But Robertson does have the edge on the Hungarian in one particular area: possession. Liverpool’s No. 26 posts better numbers for percentage of passes completed in terms of short, medium and long-range, while he has produced 146 progressive passes to Kerkez’s 121. Robertson also slightly outperforms the former AC Milan defender in defensive stats, with fewer errors leading to goals and a better tackling percentage.
Those stats can be partly explained by the differing styles of Liverpool and Bournemouth, with the latter encouraged to dribble more often and face more opposition attacks, while the Reds tend to have greater possession during games and need to patiently look for gaps to exploit.
But, it’s worth noting that Andoni Iraola specifically signed Kerkez to carry out that explosive role in the team, something that is relevant when considering where his best assets lie. Should he join Liverpool, Slot must find a way of utilizing the same skills, especially when coming up against packed defenses.
As for Robertson, he will hope that his experience, defensive qualities and composure on the ball means he has a role to play for Liverpool going forward.
