Two Liverpool players were singled out as being ‘particularly shocking’ during the first half of the match against Newcastle this afternoon.
The Reds’ Premier League campaign got off to the worst possible start as Anthony Elanga broke the deadlock inside five minutes, with Jamie Carragher fuming over how easily the home side played through the visitors’ midfield for the goal.
Andoni Iraola’s side mustered nine shots prior to half-time but none of them genuinely troubled Magpies goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, whose two saves were both made with ease.
Journalist slams ‘shocking’ Liverpool full-backs
Liverpool Echo reporter Ian Doyle was distinctly unimpressed with LFC full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong in the first half, with both players picking up yellow cards.
The journalist wrote in the publication’s live matchday blog: ‘Both Kerkez and Frimpong have been particularly shocking at left and right-back respectively.
‘Each is on a booking, which is surely something Newcastle will look to expose as the game progresses. Might we see Tsimikas and Araujo in the second half?’
A tough first half for Kerkez and Frimpong
Unfortunately, neither of Liverpool’s starting full-backs covered themselves in glory during the first 45 minutes at St James’ Park.
Frimpong has offered scant attacking threat from the right flank, failing to produce an accurate cross and losing possession eight times in the opening half (Sofascore), and Doyle observed that the Dutchman’s defending has been ‘slightly haphazard at times’ (Liverpool Echo).
Kerkez hasn’t fared any better, being caught for pace by Elanga for the early goal and struggling to contain the threat of the Newcastle forward, while also being wasteful of the couple of half-chances which came his way at the other end of the pitch and losing the ball nine times (Sofascore).
Not so long ago, Liverpool’s full-backs were the envy of the football world as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson rampaged up the flanks with devastating effect. Sadly, their respective successors endured a tough first half on Tyneside this afternoon.
Please buy players! We need a midfielder, attacker, right-back and left-back
We have a enough defender and midfielder,and the role you give RIO is a bigger role, on a normal he is a left winger and i love him,so he has strength and control
Some of the cards issued today were bordering on the ridiculous , falling over the white lines and it was given as a foul with a card to follow.
How Hall could plead that he never touched Munoz is beyond me.
When will people wake up at Liverpool, frimpong and kirkez are not good enough, they never will be.
We had ample opportunity to replace or buy better this transfer window.
We will continue to ship goals while frimpong and kirkez are at the club. Too lightweight, not good enough.
Kerkez is. He just faced a very fast winger. Robbo used to have the luxury of Sadio and Diaz for help. How often does Gakpo drop back. If we don’t sign a left winger then we are in for a very long season.
There were a few players who were rubbish today. Rio and Gakpo constantly produced nothing. Gakpo played well for 5 minutes. Sbozman covers a ton of ground but what does he produce? Plus there were a few occasions when he dithered on the ball where Wirtz would have laid it off.
Agree completely with the comments on the full-backs. No good enough. Wirtz is a waste of money.
Game hinged on the awful decision not to give Wissa a 2nd yellow, ended up being their man of the match and set up their 2nd goal too.
A holding midfielder of the Fabinho calibre is required asap. PLEASE!!!!!
All-round poor performance from all the players. Agree that Frimpong and Kerkez were awful. We def need a RB, LB, left winger, right winger and no.6. I don’t understand what Hughes is doing looking at a RW who is injured with no likelihood of playing for 3 months which would take you to the next transfer window. We need players now so get your finger out, pay the money for Barcola, Mbaye and Wharton
He produced our equalizer.
They are actually better suited as wingbacks, hence Araujo- just waiting for the 3 at the back
If we had hired alonso, they would have worked wonders. Now iraola needs to work out something for them. Kerkez was good at bournemouth, under iraola. I think if we play araujo on the right, it sort of balance off the defense so when kerkez goes in front, araujo can drop back to help out as cb.
We don’t need wingers. This team can’t play with wingers. Bringing in Barcola and Mintech will only make the situation worse. For such a stubbornly forced 4-2-3-1 formation, we have to change almost the entire lineup. I thought I’d never say this, but Slot was a good manager :-)
Forget the second winger, sign Barcola, a mobile no.6, and replace Frimpong with a proper right full back. If we do that, we have a chance to make top four. As things stand now we’re likely to slide towards mid table.
Given our current midfield/defencive setup we’re a sitting duck for every side in the league.