Milos Kerkez is one of many new summer signings at Liverpool who have struggled to make an immediate impact.
Hugo Ekitike has hit the ground running at Anfield, and as things stand, he is the only new face who has managed to do so.
The Reds spent approximately £450 million to bolster the squad this summer, but the 2-1 loss against Chelsea marked the third consecutive defeat across all competitions.
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Kerkez’s first-half substitution at Turf Moor summed up the Hungarian’s time at Anfield thus far; he has yet to demonstrate the form that earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Year last season.
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While the lack of continuity among the new-look side has been the subject of intense debate, former midfielder Danny Murphy believes he has identified the reason behind the recent struggles.
Milos Kerkez needs to adapt to playing for a massive club
When discussing Liverpool’s concerning form live on talkSPORT, Murphy said that the pressure of playing for the champions is having a detrimental effect on the new signings, particularly Kerkez.
“The new ones are a little bit, some of them have had a little bit of a tough start in terms of adapting to the enormity of the club. I think not so much physically. Kerkez has been an example of that. Frimpong is another one.”
The 21-year-old has started all seven matches in the Premier League this season under Arne Slot, and although Kerkez produced a dominant display against Arsenal, he has underwhelmed in every other outing.
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He has replaced vice-captain Andy Robertson in the starting line-up at Anfield, but the attacking prowess he showcased at Bournemouth last term has been non-existent since his £40m move this summer.
Indeed, Kerkez was lively at Stamford Bridge last time out, but often made the wrong decision when he found the ball at his feet in the opposition box and squandered a golden opportunity to equalise in the first half.
Kerkez is becoming a problem for the Reds, but Slot appears insistent on persisting with the full-back in the hopes that he plays himself back into form at Anfield.
However, he is not the only culprit; there is a deeper concern surrounding Liverpool at this moment in time, and one that Slot must address during the international break.
Arne Slot must start Andy Robertson against Manchester United
It is admirable that Slot is not bowing to pressure to bench his under-fire stars, but the Dutchman is no longer in a position to carry passengers for Liverpool.
While the Reds were scoring last-minute goals at the beginning of the season, there were no urgent concerns. However, the champions now face the risk of falling further behind Arsenal at the top of the league table.
Ruben Amorim, despite his woeful tenure at Old Trafford, has proven that he can muster important results on big occasions, narrowly missing out on snatching the three points at Anfield last season during the 2-2 draw.
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Kerkez has issues with his temperament, among other things, so he should not play in the biggest match of the season for the supporters.
Robertson knows what it means to face Man United in a Liverpool shirt and is by far the more reliable option for what could be the clash to help the Reds overturn their torrid form.