Liverpool quickly took action to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold when announcing the signing of Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen. Similarly, The Kop are also looking for a long-term replacement for the left-back position.
Of course, there will be a big difference. According to the current situation, Milos Kerkez will compete with Andy Robertson, not completely replace him. But the need for new energy at Liverpool's left-back is clear as Robertson enters the final year of his contract.
At the age of 31, Robertson has shown signs of slowing down after 8 years of dedication to The Kop. His attacks have been less noticeable in the previous season as he has tended to be safe. Statistics show that Robertson's sprints and speed have gradually decreased.
Robertson may not be as unique as Alexander-Arnold, who possesses a typical vision and passing ability of a central midfielder rather than a full-back. But replacing the qualities that Robertson brought Liverpool when he played best was still a big task.
In addition to impressive endurance and defensive ability, Robertson has a level of creativity no less than Alexander-Arnold. Robertson is only slightly behind Alexander-Arnold in terms of the number of chances created in the Premier League since he arrived at Liverpool.
The Scotsman is also behind in just eight assists compared to Alexander-Arnold's total of 64 assists in the same period. His achievements perhaps deserve more recognition. However, it is not difficult to explain why Liverpool chose Kerkez, who has just had a great season with Bournemouth.
The Hungarian player is 10 years younger than Robertson, with his best years still ahead. Coach Andoni Iraola gave an in-depth look at the progress Kerkez made last month.
"I think Milos Kerkez has made a big step forward from last season. He came here with all his energy, with all his desire to show his class. But especially mentally, he is now much more focused for 95 or 100 minutes. He becomes more reliable" - said the head coach of Bournemouth.
Kerkez's reliability can be seen in the fact that he was one of the 6 players who started every match in the Premier League last season. He played more minutes than anyone else at Bournemouth and played a big role in the best season in the club's history.
Iraola also highlighted the Hungarian's attacking ability: "He improved his attacking ability in the final third. If you compare his numbers from last season with this season, that's clear. He did very well to make these progress at a young age."
Kerkez has contributed five assists and two goals in the Premier League last season, compared to just one in his first campaign. The 21-year-old's touches, passes and crosses have also increased significantly as he took on the responsibility of a larger attack.
Kerkez has become Bournemouth's main attacking player, while only Nottingham Forest had a higher rate of left-wing attacks in the Premier League last season.
All of this is encouraging for Liverpool, who also noticed the similar style between Kerkez and Robertson. Notably, The Kop's sporting director, Richard Hughes, was the one who signed Kerkez for Bournemouth.
Kerkez is a special player with the same energy as Robertson at his peak. Tracking data shows that he was ranked among the top 5 players in the Premier League last season in both sprinting speed and running distance.
However, the same important thing is how Kerkez uses his energy. The Hungarian, like Robertson, is good at approaching the crossbar and creating chances through the passes.
According to GeniusIQ tracking data, Kerkez made more overlapping runs than any other Premier League player last season, with 213 times.
Kerkez's versatility in movements makes it difficult for him to get cards. And like Robertson, he has impressive long passing ability from the home field.
The task of replacing Robertson, and all the contributions he has given Liverpool over the years, will of course be a difficult challenge for any player. But not many players are better equipped for this task than Kerkez.
