Hungarian media issue clear Milos Kerkez verdict after his ‘confused’ display

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Milos Kerkez has struggled for Liverpool since arriving at Anfield this summer, and the full-back has fared no better for Hungary.

The 21-year-old was named in the PFA Team of the Season for the 2024/25 campaign for his performances for Bournemouth, which earned him a £40 million move to the Reds.

However, his time on Merseyside has not panned out as hoped, particularly after Kerkez was substituted during the first half of the 1-0 win against Burnley at Turf Moor.

He has, on the other hand, shown flashes of the player he was at the Vitality Stadium. Kerkez’s dominant display against Arsenal was his best showing in a red shirt thus far.

Those displays have been very few and far between, and now Kerkez has received a damning review from national media after his latest outing for Hungary.

Milos Kerkez disappoints for Hungary vs Portugal

Dominik Szoboszlai has been sensational for the Reds this season, and the Hungary captain single-handedly secured his country a 2-2 draw against Portugal in World Cup qualifying.

The 24-year-old assisted Attila Szalai for the opener before Cristiano Ronaldo’s brace overturned the deficit, and Szoboszlai scored a 91st-minute equaliser for Hungary.

However, his Liverpool teammate did not fare as well as Szoboszlai on the night and continued his torrid form for the Reds on the international stage.

Hungarian news outlet Nemzeti Sport awarded the left-back a 5/10 match rating, writing: “He did not take much forwards, if he accompanied the attack along the line and received the ball, he mostly passed it backwards, to the inner defenders.

“Even so, only 73 percent of his passes went to the right place until the break, before the first Portuguese goal, he was not offside because of him, he stepped back too much before the pass, before the second home goal, he also seemed confused, then he stepped out, and they scored from his position. After the break, he tried to pass, he was more active, but the game did not really work for him.”

Kerkez has struggled with the expectation of playing for a club of the magnitude of Liverpool, but Arne Slot has persisted with his under-fire defender; he has started every Premier League match thus far.

He is not the only summer arrival to be massively underperforming; Liverpool have a larger problem surrounding almost all the new signings, however, Kerkez is certainly not doing himself any favours.

Milos Kerkez’s statistics against Portugal

It is safe to say that the Hungarian’s performance on Tuesday evening was one of the worst he has ever produced for the national side.

Typically, Kerkez is one of the standout performers for Hungary, but he failed to deal with the constant threat of Chelsea forward Pedro Neto on the night.

Not only did Kerkez fail to win any of his three duels contested, but he was also caught out of position as Ronaldo scored his second goal of the match, leaving Hungary on the brink of defeat before Szoboszlai’s equaliser.

It is perhaps time for Slot to give Andy Robertson an extended spell in the starting line-up and give Kerkez some much-needed respite; it is clear he is not going to play himself into form any time soon.