Alan Shearer claims Liverpool star is 'not the same player' this season as he points out worrying theme under Arne Slot

Liverpool splashed around £400 million ($543.5m) on a host of new signings in the summer transfer window. They broke the British transfer record to sign striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle United on deadline after bringing in Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitike and Milos Kerkez earlier in the summer window. The new additions have helped the Reds maintain a 100 percent record through their first six games in all competitions this season, but former Bournemouth full-back Kerkez has faced criticism for his performances.

Premier League and Newcastle icon Shearer is among those who has singled out Kerkez for his underwhelming start to life as a Liverpool player. The Hungary international has already established himself as a regular starter under Slot, however, the Dutch coach was forced to substitute him in the first half of the Reds' recent win over Burnley after the defender picked up an unnecessary yellow card. 

Speaking as a pundit on NBC Sports Soccer, Shearer said: "At the minute, we are not seeing the same player, Kerkez, particularly on the left-hand side, as we saw at Bournemouth. He was free-flowing. He had the licence to go and roam and get forward. It seems as if he’s caught in two minds, whether he’s going to go or whether he’s going to stay and help protect [Virgil] Van Dijk and [Ibrahima] Konate."

After grabbing a narrow win in their Merseyside derby clash against Everton on Saturday, Liverpool will now aim to make a winning start to their Carabao Cup campaign as they face Southampton in a third-round clash at Anfield on Tuesday.