Liverpool’s summer signing Milos Kerkez has come under fire from fans in his homeland after Hungary’s 3-2 loss to Portugal in Budapest.
Hungarian outlet Nemzeti Sport revealed that supporters ranked the 21-year-old as the poorest performer on the night. Out of 7,830 votes, Kerkez collected an average score of just 4.51/10, the lowest rating of any player in the national team’s lineup.
Fans were particularly frustrated by the moment when Joao Cancelo easily dispossessed the left-back, leading directly to Portugal’s decisive third goal. Despite winning several duels, critics claimed Kerkez looked “too easy to tackle” and insisted he should have shown more composure in key situations.
Interestingly, Dominik Szoboszlai appeared devastated after that incident, visibly upset that his pass to Kerkez was immediately cut out in the buildup to the goal.
For context, Barnabas Varga was voted Hungary’s standout performer with 8.45/10, goalkeeper Balazs Toth followed with 7.54, while Willi Orban ranked third on 6.54. Captain Szoboszlai himself scored 5.43, placing mid-table, with praise for his intensity but criticism for the misplaced pass that led to the costly turnover.
Journalists at Nemzeti Sport also echoed the supporters’ views, handing Kerkez a modest 5/10. They pointed out his poor tracking of Bernardo Silva before Portugal’s opener and questioned his decision-making in dangerous areas.
Kerkez, who joined Liverpool from Bournemouth in a £40m deal, has already faced scrutiny over his defending in the Premier League. While his aggression and energy down the left flank were highlighted as positives, the Hungarian press believe he is capable of far better performances.
With Andy Robertson eyeing a return to the Reds’ starting XI, the pressure is now on Kerkez to step up. Both for club and country, Hungary’s No.3 must quickly prove why Liverpool invested heavily in his potential.
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