Milos Kerkez lacks composure and quality, says Danny Murphy as he urges Liverpool to move for Balde

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy says Milos Kerkez lacks composure and quality, and has urged the club to look at Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde as a ready-made left-back in January.

Murphy praised Kerkez’s effort and acknowledged the pressure of playing at Anfield. But his verdict on the Hungarian’s game was blunt.

Kerkez joined from Bournemouth for £40m in summer 2025, becoming the most expensive full-back in Liverpool’s history. He has been inconsistent since.

Murphy’s verdict on Milos Kerkez

Speaking to Betarades, as reported by Metro, Murphy pinpointed the problem.

“He just lacks composure and quality in the final third when he gets there. Too often his final pass or his cross isn’t good enough,” he said. “He doesn’t have the composure of an Andy Robertson, and to be fair to him, you are filling the boots of arguably one of the best left-backs Liverpool’s ever had.”

Murphy thinks the full-back’s speed is part of the issue. “He’s very much 100 miles an hour,” he said. “I’m surprised they’re not working with him more to slow him down in those areas and to just calm himself.”

He was just as concerned about the defensive side. “His positional play is sometimes a bit off, he’s a bit erratic in terms of diving in or getting beat,” Murphy added. “He likes jumping into people.”

It is not the first time Murphy has questioned Kerkez. In May, also speaking to Betarades, he urged Liverpool to sign Newcastle’s Lewis Hall. In March, he told talkSPORT that Kerkez “can’t do what Robertson could do”.

The Anfield pressure

Murphy also showed sympathy. He said he rated Kerkez highly at Bournemouth and could see how much he cares about the shirt.

“Every game, every minute, every mistake is analysed by the fans, by the press, by the worldwide audience,” he said. “I think that expectation, and that pressure is a bit much for him.”

Kerkez is now working under Andoni Iraola again, the manager who got the best out of him at Bournemouth.

Why Balde?

Balde has made just three substitute appearances in La Liga for Barcelona this season, Metro reports. He is valued at around £33m and has also been linked with a January move to Man Utd.

“I think Balde could be great for Liverpool because he’s a super talent and he’s also got that experience of being at a huge football club with that expectation,” Murphy said.

He believes Liverpool now need proven players rather than projects. He pointed to past bargains such as Philippe Coutinho, Andy Robertson, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, but said defence is different.

“Especially in defensive areas you really do want ready-made players,” he said. “Especially when you’re struggling.”

What comes next for Liverpool

Liverpool spent heavily in the summer to back Iraola, but Metro says they have dropped points in five of their first 10 league games. It also reports that Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso and Santos’ Vinicius Lira have been linked as left-back options.

Their last league game was a 3-1 win at Crystal Palace, which lifted them to fourth after successive defeats. Our Crystal Palace vs Liverpool player ratings show how Kerkez fared.

Whether the answer is Balde, another signing or a calmer Kerkez, January could be decisive. Keep up with it all on our Premier League news hub.

Milos Kerkez FAQ

How much did Liverpool pay for Milos Kerkez?
£40m, to Bournemouth in summer 2025. That made him the most expensive full-back in Liverpool’s history.

What did Danny Murphy say about Milos Kerkez?
He said Kerkez lacks composure and quality in the final third, and is erratic defensively.

Who has Danny Murphy told Liverpool to sign?
Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde, whom he called “a super talent” with big-club experience.