Andoni Iraola Made a Move That Blew Up In His Face: He Can NEVER Bench Milos Kerkez Again

Andoni Iraola might have just learned the hard way that you cannot sideline Milos Kerkez, no matter how frustrated fans get, after the disaster that unfolded against Fulham on Saturday afternoon. Liverpool stumbled to a 0-0 draw, a brutal gut punch especially after those two impressive wins against Ipswich and Atletico Madrid. Seriously, we thought the old Liverpool magic was finally back, you know?

The Fulham Fiasco and a Left-Back Nightmare

But nope. Against Fulham, Iraola’s crew looked like they’d never played together, barely able to string more than five passes. It’s clear the former Bournemouth boss is still trying to figure out his best starting XI, and man, this whole “new way of doing things” is a massive learning curve. He obviously wanted to try something different at left-back, but the player he put in there? Yikes. After that performance, Iraola is probably kicking himself and promising to never drop a regular starter again.

Kostas Tsimikas Was a Full-Blown Trainwreck

Milos Kerkez has definitely been a frustration for Liverpool fans this season. He was bought last summer, and frankly, the Hungarian hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire. Fans have been screaming for a new left-back, but instead, they got Kostas Tsimikas back in the squad. Saturday’s match was Tsimikas’s first start since his return, and honestly, it’s probably gonna be his last. He got hooked at half-time, totally useless out there.

This was his big chance to prove he belonged at Anfield, but what he did in those 45 minutes sealed his fate. He won only three of the seven ground duels he attempted, zero tackles, and committed three fouls. Three fouls in one half! His passes were accurate only 65 percent of the time, and get this: he lost possession of the ball a staggering 17 times. Seventeen times! For just one half of football, those stats are absolutely damning. This dude is finished. Next to Tsimikas, even the sometimes-frustrating Kerkez looks like Roberto Carlos. Iraola won’t be trusting the 30-year-old again, that’s for sure, even if the “fierce” Kerkez is the only other option.

What’s Next for Liverpool’s Left Side?

So, Liverpool didn’t get their wish for a new left-back, and now they’re stuck between a rock and a hard place with Kerkez, who hasn’t met expectations, and Tsimikas, who apparently forgot how to play professional football. This left-back situation is a mess, and Iraola desperately needs to find a real solution, and fast. With options this thin, and Iraola still trying to figure things out, the pressure is cranked all the way up. What’s their next move going to be?

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Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.