Gary Neville Slams ‘Naive’ Liverpool Star Who ‘Looked Like a Baby’ in Chelsea Defeat
London, October 5, 2025 — Liverpool’s struggles in the Premier League continued at Stamford Bridge as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea, marking their third consecutive loss in all competitions. The Reds, already under pressure after recent defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray, once again failed to capitalize on key moments in a match filled with frustration and defensive lapses.
The night began with promise when Cody Gakpo cancelled out Moises Caicedo’s early opener just after the hour mark, giving Liverpool hope of salvaging at least a point. However, that optimism quickly turned into heartbreak as Estêvão Willian struck in stoppage time to seal a dramatic win for Chelsea — and heap more misery on Arne Slot’s men.
Gary Neville’s Brutal Assessment of Milos Kerkez and Liverpool’s Defense
Former Manchester United defender and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville didn’t mince words in his post-match analysis. Speaking after the final whistle, Neville delivered a scathing verdict on Liverpool’s defensive performance — singling out Ibrahima Konaté and particularly Milos Kerkez for harsh criticism.
Neville revealed that Konaté appeared to have “annoyed” manager Arne Slot before being forced off due to injury. But it was Kerkez who received the fiercest scrutiny. The 21-year-old Hungarian, who joined Liverpool from Bournemouth in a £40 million summer transfer, has endured a difficult start to life at Anfield — and Neville believes his display at Stamford Bridge was among his worst.
“Kerkez looks like a youth team player,” Neville said on Sky Sports. “I know he’s talented, but he looked like he was playing for the U21s. He’s naïve — he looked like a baby out there.”
Neville went on to criticize the left-back’s physicality and decision-making, noting his struggles in one-on-one duels and positioning against Chelsea’s wide players.
“He’s losing 50-50s,” Neville continued. “This isn’t about adapting to a new league — he’s already played in the Premier League. When you’re playing next to Virgil van Dijk, arguably the best centre-back in the world, you’re expected to perform better.”
Liverpool’s Full-Backs Under Scrutiny
Neville didn’t stop with Kerkez. The former England international expanded his criticism to Liverpool’s overall defensive structure, particularly targeting the full-backs.
“Let’s be honest — Liverpool’s full-backs are struggling,” Neville stated. “Jeremie Frimpong looks like he should be playing as a winger, not a defender. Conor Bradley isn’t delivering what’s required either, and while Andy Robertson still gives everything, he’s not quite at the level he was a few years ago.”
The pundit stressed that unless Liverpool address their defensive fragility, their campaign could quickly unravel.
“Right now, Liverpool’s biggest weakness is at full-back. They need to tighten up defensively or risk falling further behind.”
A Critical Moment in Liverpool’s Season
The defeat leaves Liverpool under growing pressure ahead of their crucial upcoming fixture against Manchester United at Anfield on October 19 — a match that could define the direction of their season.
For manager Arne Slot, finding solutions to his side’s defensive instability is now the top priority. With Milos Kerkez under scrutiny and questions surrounding Liverpool’s full-backs, the coming weeks could determine whether the Reds can recover their early-season form or continue to slide down the Premier League table.