Liverpool star facing ‘extended spell’ on sidelines as team-mate ‘could be forced out’ of Anfield

Liverpool’s season has started in the kind of way every supporter dreams about. The champions came into this campaign carrying the heavy crown of defending their Premier League title, and many wondered if the hunger would still be there. Would Arne Slot’s men still have the fire, or would the weight of expectation slow them down? Four games into the new season, the answer is as clear as the Anfield night sky after a European victory – Liverpool are still perfect. Four wins from four, twelve points, and the look of a team that refuses to let their grip on the throne loosen. That 1-0 victory over Burnley was not glamorous, not filled with the kind of dazzling goals and spectacular dominance fans sometimes expect, but it was the mark of champions. They found a way, they managed the game, and they kept their 100 percent record alive.

But beneath the celebration of that victory lies a story of selection dilemmas, tactical adjustments, and the type of squad battles that can define a season. When the teamsheets came out before kickoff at Turf Moor, all eyes were on the backline. Slot had chosen to give a start to Milos Kerkez, the young Hungarian left-back who arrived in the summer with a growing reputation. He was meant to represent the next generation, a player who could slowly challenge Andy Robertson for a position he has owned for years. But football is never a straight line, and that afternoon against Burnley, the drama of competition revealed itself once again.

Kerkez started the match brightly, but football is often about small moments that turn the story. In the first half, he picked up a yellow card – not for a crunching tackle or a professional foul, but for something far more frustrating: a dive. A silly decision, one that raised eyebrows on the bench and gave Burnley hope. It wasn’t the type of card that came from being under pressure; it came from a lapse in judgment, and in the Premier League, those mistakes don’t go unnoticed.

Arne Slot, standing on the touchline, had a choice to make. He had seen Burnley threaten on the counter, their pace on the wings occasionally stretching Liverpool’s lines. With Kerkez on a booking, every challenge carried the risk of disaster. The fear wasn’t just about losing the player; it was about losing control of the match. A red card in such a tight game could have undone everything Liverpool had worked for. And so, with the cold calculation of a manager who has already shown he will not hesitate when making big calls, Slot decided to act. Before halftime, the number went up on the board. Kerkez was coming off. Andy Robertson, the old soldier, the reliable warrior of countless battles, was coming on.

It was a moment that said much more than just a substitution. For Robertson, it was another reminder that no matter how many young challengers arrive, his story at Liverpool is not finished yet. For Kerkez, it was a warning. Talent may get you into the squad, but trust is earned, and one reckless decision can push you back down the pecking order.

When the final whistle blewand Liverpool’s 1-0 win was confirmed, many celebrated the clean sheet and the points, but in the shadows of that night, conversations began about Kerkez’s place in the squad. Former Manchester United and Tottenham chief scout Mick Brown was one of the voices to speak up. His verdict was sharp: Kerkez will struggle to get back in front. Those words echoed through the football world, because they hinted at a bigger truth – once you lose the faith of a manager at a big club like Liverpool, the road back is often longer and steeper than you imagine.