Arne Slot sends Milos Kerkez message after 'not smart' Liverpool decision

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.

Arne Slot looks on prior to the Premier League match between Burnley and Liverpool at Turf Moor on September 14, 2025(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))

Arne Slot has explained his decision to withdraw Milos Kerkez in the first half of Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Burnley.

The Hungarian was booked for simulation midway through the first half before being replaced by Andy Robertson in the 38th minute.

The Dutchman, who was seen having a brief exchange with the 21-year-old on the sidelines after taking him off, admitted the left-back was ‘not smart’ for diving as he conceded his yellow card played a part in his decision to replace the defender.

Having already taken off Kerkez on the hour-mark against AFC Bournemouth on the opening day of the season after he had been booked, Slot conceded the risk of a red card was not a gamble he was willing to make.

READ MORE:Arne Slot makes Liverpool admission and explains Alexander Isak decision - 'not prepared for that'

“Yes, I said already to him that it wasn’t smart,” he said.

But let’s be clear, it wasn’t a penalty!

“It is funny that the two dives we have had in the one-and-a-bit years I’ve been here, they have both led to a yellow card so we’re not really good at it.

I see it happening a lot without the referee giving a yellow, but the moment we do it…

“It was a dive, he told me he felt something but it wasn’t a foul so it’s not smart.

“Not only the yellow card but also afterwards he played the ball no foul at all, but the referee blew his whistle which can always happen.

Article continues below

“The reaction of the fans and their players trying to go to the referee, saying if you think this would be a foul then it’s a yellow, which would have been ridiculous of course.

“Then it’s a risk.

11 v 11 we could have drawn it, but we couldn’t lose it as they were barely over the halfway line.

“I didn’t want to take that risk.

It was hard for Milos because normally you don’t have to take a player off if he has a yellow.