Arne Slot substitutes Milos Kerkez after booking as Liverpool weigh left-back options

Milos Kerkez was withdrawn by Liverpool manager Arne Slot in the 38th minute of Sunday's 1-0 win at Burnley after the left back was booked for simulation, a decision Slot said was taken because he feared the Hungary international might be sent off.

Slot told reporters he had substituted Kerkez for Andy Robertson because the booking, combined with a cluster of Burnley players surrounding the referee after a foul, suggested to him that the new signing was at risk of a second yellow. "I highlighted when he made a foul, six of their players went over to the referee and the referee waved his arms so for me that combination (was the reason for the substitution)," Slot said. He added that Kerkez said he understood the change, but joked about what others might say about the move.

Kerkez, 21, who joined Liverpool from Bournemouth in a deal reported at about £40 million, has started every league game this season. His early-season performances have drawn mixed reviews: observers praised his defensive work in some matches and criticised lapses in others, and data referenced by reporters suggests Kerkez is stronger than Robertson at defensive duels and tackles per game this year while Robertson retains the edge on attacking metrics.

Slot's decision has sharpened a selection debate at left back ahead of a pivotal run of fixtures that includes Liverpool's Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid and a Merseyside derby against Everton two days later. Robertson, 31, remains an experienced, trusted option and vice-captain; Kerkez has started the club's opening league games and is pushing for more minutes.

Former Hungary international Adam Bogdan, speaking to Daily Mail Sport, described Kerkez as "like a young horse, kicking everything," a characterisation he and others used to underline the full back's intensity rather than to denigrate him. Bogdan praised Kerkez's work-rate and mentality, saying his eagerness and self-assuredness make him well suited to top-level football and that teammates and former clubs welcomed his lively presence.

Daily Mail Sport also reported that Kerkez had been released by Rapid Vienna as a teenager amid what former colleagues characterised as behavioural issues and being "hard to manage." The article framed those remarks in the context of Kerkez's emotional playing style and resilience: teammates and coaches quoted in the piece emphasised that he has repeatedly overcome setbacks to establish himself, including a progression through AZ Alkmaar and Bournemouth before moving to Liverpool.

Robertson, asked about his younger colleague after the Burnley game, said: "All the new signings are young but have incredible potential and they are the future of the club. He will be the starting left back for Liverpool in the future. It's up to me to push him this season and help him improve. He has a fantastic future ahead of him and he just needs to keep working hard and not let it affect him, which it won't as he's a confident lad. I'll help him as much as I can but I do want to play games!"

Virgil van Dijk also voiced support, calling Kerkez "a fantastic, aggressive, full-of-energy player who is learning the way of how we play and the intensity. He is dealing with how it is off the pitch, which is not easy. He is going to be fine."

Kerkez's personal story has been cited as part of his appeal to Liverpool. Born in Serbia and eligible for Hungary at the request of his grandmother, he has spoken publicly about a straightforward upbringing and a preference for family time over high-profile distractions. His close friendship with Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai was a factor, according to reporting, in his decision to join Liverpool amid interest from other top clubs.

Tactically, Slot has proven willing to make early, decisive substitutions when he believes they will protect the team. The manager's quick change at Turf Moor followed a similar pattern to a tactical swap he made last season when he removed a struggling defender early in a match; Slot's priority, he said, is always to manage the balance of risk and control on the pitch.

Liverpool now face the immediate task of choosing a left back for a Champions League test against Atletico before turning to a league derby with Everton. Kerkez's mixture of defensive solidity in some games, moments of overcommitment in others, and his apparent mental resilience will inform Slot's selection decisions in the coming days as the club balances short-term results with the development of a player the club's sporting director backed at both Bournemouth and Liverpool.