Liverpool badly need an upgrade who nobody seems to be talking about and Newcastle exposed it

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

Richard Hughes had better be the busiest sporting director in world football for the rest of the summer transfer window, or Liverpool look like they could be in for another season of pain.The hope that Andoni Iraola could provide the change needed and steer the ship away from the difficulties of 25/26 has been tempered by a real and concerning lack of action in the market.With barely one week left of the window, Liverpool need at least four signings, with the two wing positions, central midfield and right-back all of paramount concern to supporters. With Lewis Hall largely shining for Newcastle, Kerkez’s performance at St James’ Park showed that an upgrade is needed at left-back.Liverpool need a better left-backStill only 22 and with a good body of Premier League experience now behind him, there is still hope that Kerkez can come good.

READ MORE: Andoni Iraola asked to explain why Dominik Szoboszlai took Liverpool’s penalty vs Newcastle not Alexander IsakPhoto by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesJeremie Frimpong looks about as far away from the answer as it’s possible to get at right-back just now, and to have Kerkez struggling so badly on the left as well makes Liverpool look even worse.Fans had become so used to the brilliance of Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold for so many years that they’d forgotten what it is to have unreliable full-backs. The Newcastle game has now suggested that their follow up season may not be much better.Frimpong is taking the spotlight, mainly because it has been clear since Alexander-Arnold left that Liverpool are not at all sorted at right-back, but Kerkez should not escape criticism either.

Of course, his copybook was blotted by his giving away of the game-levelling penalty right at the end, and that should not be ignored, but otherwise he really was top-notch.Another problem for Liverpool here is that in Kostas Tsimikas, they have a back-up to Kerkez who is known to be not quite up to scratch. As an occasional performer the Greek is fine, but if Kerkez needs taking out of the team for his poor displays, who could be confident in saying that Tsimikas will offer better?The 30-year-old is highly likely to leave Liverpool at the end of his contract next summer, meaning the Reds will need to do something at left-back regardless of what they think of Kerkez.