Liverpool’s new Premier League season started with a bitter taste as they lost the Community Shield on penalties to Crystal Palace after a dramatic 2-2 draw at Wembley. The defeat was not just about missed spot kicks, it raised serious questions about Liverpool’s defensive strength under new manager Arne Slot.
The focus of criticism quickly fell on one player: £40 million summer signing Milos Kerkez. The 20-year-old left-back, brought in from Bournemouth to add energy and attacking flair, instead found himself at the centre of defensive mistakes that allowed Palace back into the game, twice.
The match began with optimism. New signings Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong both found the net, giving fans a glimpse of Slot’s exciting attacking style. Florian Wirtz, another fresh face, impressed with creativity and confidence. But for all their forward firepower, Liverpool’s defence was shaky, leaving fans, and club legends, worried.
The first sign of trouble came when Virgil van Dijk tripped Ismaila Sarr in the box after Alisson had just made a huge one-on-one save against Jean-Philippe Mateta. Mateta stepped up and coolly converted the penalty.
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Minutes later, Palace punished Liverpool again. This time, Sarr found acres of space after Kerkez was dragged inside, leaving Cody Gakpo chasing back to cover.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher did not hold back in his analysis. Posting on X at halftime, he wrote:
“LFC looking great going forward but susceptible defensively, as we’ve seen all pre-season. A lot of the goals conceded by LFC have come from going man-to-man aggressively & leaving space in behind. Today Kerkez is getting dragged inside with Sarr leaving Gakpo chasing WB.”
Former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman echoed Carragher’s concerns. Speaking on TNT Sports, he pointed out Kerkez’s role in the first Palace goal:
“It was Kerkez playing everybody onside. Everybody stepped forward and the left-back was stepping backwards. That gave Palace the opportunity, and Palace were exploiting it a lot, especially in the second half.”
Kerkez, chosen over Andy Robertson to start, did show glimpses of defensive skill—making one crucial block in the second half. But his natural tendency to push forward left gaps for Palace’s Daniel Munoz and Sarr to exploit repeatedly.
McManaman believes these are fixable problems but warned that Slot needs to act quickly:
“The two goals today, without taking anything away from Crystal Palace, were defensive mistakes. These are things that can be worked on, but there’s cause for concern. The defence looks vulnerable.”
Arne Slot himself admitted after the match that Liverpool’s defensive record is a problem.
“We conceded two goals [today] which we also did against Athletic Bilbao in pre-season, and a couple more against AC Milan,” he told TNT Sports. “If you want to compete to win the league, you can’t keep conceding chances, let alone goals.”
Slot suggested that while Liverpool’s attack has improved, the defensive shape is still a work in progress. The new system, featuring aggressive pressing and overlapping full-backs, may take time for players to master.
Fans now face a mix of excitement and anxiety. On one hand, the front line looks dangerous, capable of scoring against anyone. On the other, the back line, especially the full-backs, seems too open, giving opponents room to counter.
For Kerkez, the criticism will sting. But it’s also a chance to adapt and prove himself at one of the biggest clubs in the world. Robertson’s experience will continue to push him, and Liverpool supporters will hope the young Hungarian can strike the right balance between attack and defence.
The Community Shield may be just a curtain-raiser, but for Liverpool, it was also a warning shot. The Premier League is relentless, and with Manchester City, Arsenal, and others ready to pounce, even small defensive lapses can cost big.
Slot’s Liverpool is thrilling to watch going forward. But if the defence doesn’t tighten up quickly, the season could be defined not by how many goals they score, but by how many they concede.
