Liverpool’s vice-captain Andy Robertson quickly came to the defense of Milos Kerkez after the Hungarian left-back faced a tough outing in our 1-0 win against Burnley. Kerkez, who was signed for £40 million from Bournemouth over the summer, was taken off before halftime after receiving a yellow card for simulation. Manager Arne Slot later revealed the substitution was made to prevent the risk of a second booking (via liverpoolfc.com).
Robertson supports Kerkez following his Burnley substitution
The Scottish international replaced Kerkez and played a key role in securing the important victory, which extended Liverpool’s lead to three points at the top of the Premier League.
After the match (via the Liverpool Echo), Robertson commented: “He performed brilliantly for Bournemouth last season. He’s still young, and sometimes we forget that. All the new signings are young but have great potential—they represent the club’s future, and it’s our job to support them.”
The 31-year-old added: “Kerkez will be Liverpool’s starting left-back eventually, and I want to push him this season and help him develop. He has a bright future ahead if he keeps working hard and doesn’t let Sunday’s experience affect him.”
It’s unfortunate for the former Bournemouth player to follow a disappointing international break with a difficult Premier League performance that led to an early substitution.
Robertson understands the challenges Kerkez is facing, having himself taken several months to adapt after joining Liverpool from Hull City in 2017.
He explained: “It’s a big step up. I came from Hull, he came from Bournemouth—it’s a similar situation. There’s a lot more attention when you wear the Liverpool jersey.”
Liverpool’s vice-captain also reflected on his own position
Robertson noted that his recent matches with Scotland have helped improve his fitness. He admitted he still wants to secure his regular spot in Liverpool’s starting lineup, saying: “I want to play and be the first-choice left-back. I need to keep pushing myself to reach the performance level I know I’m capable of.”
The new vice-captain is now aiming to start in Liverpool’s Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Atletico had shown interest in signing Robertson during the summer, but the full-back reaffirmed his loyalty to Liverpool, stating: “If we can perform at our best in front of the Anfield crowd, we can challenge any team.”
With Kerkez settling in and Robertson striving to maintain his place, the battle for the left-back position is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing contests in Liverpool’s squad this season.
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