‘Really poor’ Liverpool star is more integral to Arne Slot’s plan than fans may think - opinion

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Some Liverpool players have received a lot of criticism at the start of the season yet continue to feature.The Reds may be sitting top of the Premier League above rivals Arsenal, but the feeling around the club is not perhaps as positive as many would imagine it to be. Despite being eight games into the season, Liverpool are yet to put in a convincing performance and have only managed wins due to last-minute goals.Many of their players have come under fire for their performances, with fans even calling for some to be dropped due to consistently underwhelming them.

There is one player in particular who has been ‘really poor’ at the start of the campaign, and despite the Reds having options to replace him, Arne Slot clearly believes that he is vital to his plans.Photo by Carl Recine/Getty ImagesMilos Kerkez is integral to Arne Slot’s plansIt is approaching that point in the season where new signings are starting to be judged more frequently as they have now had time to settle in, with a lot of Liverpool stars now under increased pressure. One of these is left-back Milos Kerkez as the Hungarian has looked a very different player to the one seen at Bournemouth last season.Consistency appears to be his main issue and he seems to alternate between having a good game and a bad one, with his performance against Crystal Palace falling into the latter.Despite this, as well as fans calling for Andy Robertson to start, Slot seems to like Kerkez a lot, and this is proven by just how much he plays him.So far this season, Kerkez is the only player to feature in all nine of Liverpool’s games so far this season, with this including the Community Shield.He has started in seven and appeared off the bench in two, highlighting how he can now be very much considered as first choice.READ MORE: Jamie Carragher claims £35m Liverpool player is making Florian Wirtz worse right nowThere is also no denying that he has talent either because in games such as Arsenal and Everton, he was one of Liverpool’s best players on the pitch and showed why he was brought to the club.If he can bring those performances more regularly, then fans will perhaps see eye to eye with Slot and realise why he likes him so much, but for now, he still has a lot to prove.Andy Robertson should start in the Champions LeagueWith all that said, the Reds’ second choice is not a bad option either, with Robertson the perfect role model to have around the club.The new vice captain has also shown his quality when given the chance too, with his performances much better from what fans saw last season.He should also get plenty of game time as well, with the Champions League his best chance due to the experience he has in the competition.For games such as Galatasaray and Real Madrid, the Scotsman might be preferred as he knows how to manage the atmosphere and games of this magnitude, hence why he should start.Fixture congestion is also another reason and squad rotation is vital, meaning Robertson should be able to alleviate the pressure on Kerkez.