Liverpool pair Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez came in for plenty of criticism for their performances in the Reds’ 2-2 draw away to Newcastle United.
Andoni Iraola’s first official game in charge of Liverpool was far from perfect, with Dominik Szoboszlai’s penalty in the dying seconds rescuing a point at St James’ Park on Sunday.
The Spaniard assessed the Reds’ display after the match, acknowledging that there were issues on show, but also looking to find positives:
“I think it’s difficult because they told me probably the stats are for us in terms of we’ve created more and [had] better chances and this. But it’s true that they can say, ‘OK, we were winning, so we didn’t need to push, we were defending our result.’
“I’ve liked a lot of things about the team in terms of putting pressure [on]. I think [in] the first half we haven’t finished the things – we’ve had a lot of balls on the edge of the box, inside the box, where we haven’t finished the play, we haven’t shot. Actually, they punished us in the first goal because we don’t finish it and it’s a clear chance.
“I think [in the] second half we’ve been more decisive – I think [in] the goal from Cody but also we put a lot more pressure [on], we create more set-plays, more crosses, more things inside the box. I think it’s a reward. It’s not a lot, one point, but at least it’s something that is deserved.”
Writing on X, I, Henry Jackson, criticised Frimpong and Kerkez, both of whom were guilty of poor decision-making and a lack of physicality throughout:
“I want Liverpool players to be intelligent over anything. Kerkez and Frimpong do dim things far too often for my liking. It’s painful to watch.”
Going from Trent/Robertson to Frimpong and Kerkez surely must be up there for the worst downgrades in football history? I can’t think of much worse it’s actually incredible.
— Yakob (@yakobper90) August 23, 2026
Should Liverpool be concerned with their full-back options?
Frimpong and Kerkez were so poor against Newcastle, especially the former, who, when you take away his pace, looks like a worryingly limited footballer.
Kerkez did well at times up against the speedy Anthony Elanga, but he was also guilty of being an erratic presence, as was the case during his first season in a Liverpool shirt.
At the moment, the duo feel like a major step down in quality from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, and their small statures also don’t help the Reds at all.
Kostas Tsimikas is an adequate left-back deputy, at best, and there is a huge lack of depth at right-back, so it is an area of the pitch that should rightly be causing Iraola concern.
