21 Jan 2026 11:32:17
Was watching the pre Marseille press conference yesterday, with Kerkez doing his bit. When asked about the recent performance he said Slot tells him how to play, and that's what he does.
He seemed to be somewhat 'embarassed' having to play the way he is being ordered to.
So it seems the players have no freedom to express themselves these days.
21 Jan 2026 12:51:39
Exactly what many have been saying, Liverpool's way is pressing and that's what suits our players.
21 Jan 2026 13:09:00
So Slot tells him to dive in and make rash tackles does he?
Slot tells him to pass the ball to the opposition nearly every time he crosses the halfway line?
We get it, you don't like the manager.
21 Jan 2026 13:46:04
Thought Kerkez had a good game Saturday.
21 Jan 2026 13:57:25
Semibythesea3 - pardon me for relaying what the player himself said during the televised press conference yesterday. Watch it yourself.
I think you know what the underlying message was, got nothing to do with not liking or liking the manager (or do you mean Head Coach).
Kerkez could be making such errors because he is not allowed to play his natural game. Who knows.
21 Jan 2026 14:06:57
Kerkez has definitely been improving.
21 Jan 2026 14:07:23
Played well Saturday and against Arsenal.
21 Jan 2026 14:14:41
I agree on Kerkez. Big improvement. I'm optimistic about him again.
Doesn't seem to Link with Gakpo though, since Diaz left, now there's no competition, Cody has fell off a Cliff.
21 Jan 2026 14:31:53
My take on what he said was that it is a very different tactical setup that he is still trying to learn but he was getting a lot of help from Slot and the players (especially Robbo) but that he knows he still has work to do.
Nothing in it.
21 Jan 2026 14:38:16
Kerkez spoke well in the interview and is playing well. No underlying tone to be seen here. Any chance of a bit of a break laying into Slot at every opportunity. We all get that 99% of this site wants him gone as a premier league trophy last season and 4th and still in 2 cups in a transition year is not enough.
21 Jan 2026 15:07:58
Players do as the manager says, stop the press.
21 Jan 2026 15:55:37
So you agree Slot is stifling the team. About time.
21 Jan 2026 16:07:08
You're wrong WarMachine, everything has to do with Slot, if Kerkez makes a grammatical or pronunciation mistake in his interviews it's also Slot's fault because Slot didn't move his family here to set an example for everybody else, his lackadaisical and non-committal attitude rubs off on the players and means that everybody else can take their time adjusting to life in Liverpool.
21 Jan 2026 16:25:56
Patrik, I may detect a hint of sarcasm in your post, or, I may be wrong.
21 Jan 2026 17:41:55
Kerkez has been held back most of the season. that's on Slot.
21 Jan 2026 17:48:00
Pb. Slot is at fault for a lot of things, for the way we play etc, it always lands on his door, the 9 outta 12 defeats against inferior teams. this amazing ( lucky) unbeaten run everyone keeps banging on about is littered with terrible performances, so hopefully it will work out perfectly for Slot not moving his family here because he will be back with them soon enough, n if he needs a lift to Manny airport, I'll drop him off.
21 Jan 2026 18:23:35
Kerkez plays the way the manager tells him to.
Kerkez is improving.
So Slot is improving Kerkez, right?
21 Jan 2026 18:25:43
So is he not being held back now Stevie? Or God forbid could it have taken a while for him to settle, just as Wirtz did?
21 Jan 2026 22:22:46
He had a great game tonight against Marseille.
21 Jan 2026 23:05:27
my guess is that Kerkez is referring to playing more inverted than as a wide fullback, which is more suited to his strengths.
22 Jan 2026 00:56:21
I will start the no doubt lengthy list in congratulating Arne Slot getting it right in Marseille. Who's next? @Kim, is that you I see hiding in the bushes ….
22 Jan 2026 14:13:47
Ron, it was Slot that was trying to ruin Kerkez to begin with by trying to play him in a way that never suited him, to start with. The kid looked shocked, lost and had that "deer in headlights" look on his face back then.
Now, Slot has simply gone back to playing him the way he should have been playing him in the first place and oh, what a surprise: The kid is playing like we all knew he could.
Sorry, you don't get cookies for cleaning up the absolute mess you caused. That's not how any of this works, mate.
22 Jan 2026 15:03:29
KBL, my apologies, my post was a little blunt.
I should have elaborated.
What you say makes sense about Kerkez being allowed to play his natural game and last night against Marseille he played well, probably his best performance since he moved.
Up until now though he has been more guilty of trying too hard and as a consequence, struggling.
I accept that Slot has made mistakes this season and who knows, maybe there is more going on behind the scenes that we are yet to be privy too but Liverpool walked the league last year and I think that led to a sense of over confidence in the players that this year would be the same, particularly after adding some very good players in the summer.
That confidence carried them through the first few games but eventually caught up with them. Time for Slot to prove himself and whilst people will rightly point to the fact they haven't been beaten for a while, performances didn't really improve a great deal.
Whilst a disappointing draw on Saturday, the first half was a bit more like it and Liverpool should have added to the single goal.
Last night was a very good, disciplined performance at a hostile venue and hopefully a marker for continued improvement.
I don't agree with the demands for Slot to be sacked, I don't know how long you have been a Liverpool fan but in my time, going all the way back to 1990, Roy Hodgeson is the only manager to be sacked without being given the time to show he has what it takes to be Liverpool manager, and rightly so.
Rodgers is the only other one that I can remember being sacked mid season but he had been given 3 1/ 2 years to prove himself.
Sacking managers (or head coaches) at the drop of a hat is for the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid, I would prefer if Liverpool didn't go down that route.
Klopp had a terrible season after winning the league but I don't remember anyone calling for him to be sacked. Yes I know there was a terrible injury 'crisis' that season but it was Klopps choice to compound it by playing the midfield in defence, lost 7 games in a row at Anfield but he was given time and turned it around.
There are so many factors as to why this year has gone the way it has and not all of it is because manager bad.
Look at the first game Liverpool lost this year, Palace away. They were absolutely flying, unbeaten for a long time, if that game was played again now I think its a very different outcome.
If Slot and the boys can build momentum after last night then there could still be some good memories made between now and seasons end and we move forward, address the issues within the squad and go again next year. If not, thanks for your efforts and we move on.
Unless there's a once in a blue moon opportunity like Klopp available (which there isnt) then I think changing managers mid season is a bad idea.