Liverpool legend Michael Owen has warned the club that full-back Milos Kerkez could end up being a problem for Andoni Iraola.
Michael Owen has claimed Milos Kerkez has struggled since arriving at Liverpool from Bournemouth in 2025, questioning whether the left-back can become a long-term solution for manager Andoni Iraola.
“The full-back position is a real problem for Liverpool and it pains me to say that,” Owen told TEAMtalk.
“A handful of years ago they had the best full-backs in the world, in Trent and Robbo, it was just unbelievable, the numbers they were posting and how well they were playing. It was a really strong position and all of a sudden it has been ripped up and it is a real problem.
Owen’s concerns extend beyond Kerkez. The former Liverpool striker was particularly critical of the Hungary international:
“Tsimikas is not good enough to start every week and Kerkez has struggled since being there. He looks nervous and lost in the red shirt and it looks heavy on him. I think the two full-backs are a problem.”
Kerkez joined Liverpool for £40 million after establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s promising young full-backs. His previous spell at Bournemouth saw him work under Iraola, making his current struggles at Anfield particularly relevant. His struggles have immediate tactical implications for Iraola, who has built his Anfield setup around full-back dominance in build-up play.
The 22-year-old has made 54 appearances for Liverpool since his arrival and has contributed towards four goals. He has started all six of the Reds’ matches this season, but Owen does not believe those opportunities have shown enough to convince him about Kerkez’s long-term prospects.
Liverpool’s defence lacks quality
Owen also questioned Liverpool’s options on the opposite flank. He remains a fan of Conor Bradley but pointed to the defender’s injury history as a concern, while he believes Jeremie Frimpong offers considerably more going forward than defensively.
Liverpool have attempted to strengthen their defensive options with the arrival of Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona, and the Uruguay international has impressed since joining. However, Owen does not believe his presence completely solves the problems at full-back, as he is primarily a centre-back.
Liverpool previously had Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson operating on either side during one of the most successful periods in the club’s modern history. Their attacking output and consistency became a major part of the team’s identity.
Owen now believes Liverpool have a significant gap to fill in those positions. For Kerkez, the assessment increases the pressure on him to rediscover his Bournemouth form and convince Iraola that he can remain Liverpool’s long-term answer at left-back.
