Liverpool's turbulent season continues to draw sharp analysis from pundits, with Micah Richards now raising concerns over summer signing Milos Kerkez. The former Manchester City defender has questioned whether the Hungarian left-back is truly adapting to life at Anfield after a difficult first campaign under Arne Slot.

Kerkez arrived from Bournemouth last summer for £40m, riding high on the momentum of an outstanding season on the south coast. At just 22, he carried huge expectations into a Liverpool side hungry for defensive stability. But the transition has been anything but smooth.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Richards didn't hold back. "Kerkez has been a shadow of the player he was at Bournemouth," he said. "I don't know if that's pressure. I don't know if that's system." It's a stark assessment for a player who was supposed to be the long-term answer at left-back.

The timing of the criticism is especially pointed. Liverpool's recent chaotic defeat at Manchester United exposed defensive frailties once again, with Kerkez struggling to find his rhythm. Richards has already questioned several of Liverpool's summer additions, claiming they "have not worked" and pointing to a tactical setup under Slot that he says is "too slow, too passive, and too easy to play against."

For Kerkez, the challenge is compounded by the weight of comparison. He was thrust straight into the starting XI, but earlier in the campaign, many supporters were calling for veteran Andy Robertson to feature more often. While Robertson's form has dipped at times, his experience remains a valuable asset—and this is widely expected to be his final season at Anfield.

Former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders recently weighed in, insisting Robertson is still the stronger all-round player. "He's better than Kerkez, in my opinion," Saunders said. "Kerkez is trying to get there, and at the minute, I think it's costing Liverpool games."

That might sound harsh on a young talent still finding his feet, but in the unforgiving world of top-flight football, patience is a luxury few can afford. For Liverpool and Kerkez, the pressure is on to turn potential into performance—and fast.