Milos Kerkez Thrives Under Iraola at Liverpool
Milos Kerkez walked off Anfield with 90 minutes in his legs, a clean sheet on the board and a familiar voice back in his ear.
Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Como was only a pre-season friendly on paper. For Kerkez, it felt like the start of something he already knows well.
Old boss, new stage
The Hungarian left-back spent two seasons under Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth. Now the Spaniard is in the Liverpool dugout, and Kerkez looks like a player suddenly back in his natural element.
“It's a big difference, obviously,” he admitted, asked how life under Iraola compares to last season’s campaign under Arne Slot. The £40m signing endured a mixed first year at Anfield; now the demands are clearer, sharper – and right in his wheelhouse.
“We play really aggressive. We need to run a lot more. It is good. It is tough, but if you want to compete at the top, you need to do that in the Champions League, the Premier League.”
This is Iraola football: front-foot, relentless, unforgiving. And Kerkez, more than most, knew what was coming the moment Liverpool made the appointment.
Freedom down the flank
The difference is visible in his game. He isn’t just holding the touchline; he’s attacking it.
“You can see I have more freedom to fly up and down,” he said. “I'm really running more, with more freedom, putting more balls into boxes.”
There was no mistaking the gratitude in his voice when he spoke about Iraola.
“The manager gave me confidence when I was in Bournemouth. We all have to do what he tells us to do. Play aggressive, front-foot, so we need to continue.”
Kerkez’s engine has rarely been questioned. Now he has a system that encourages him to use it to the limit.
Ready for Newcastle
Como beaten, pre-season wrapped, the real stuff starts on Sunday: Newcastle United away. Few fixtures hit you in the lungs quite like that one.
“We're more ready. Everyone can't wait for the season to start next week,” Kerkez said. “I feel ready.”
This was his first full 90 minutes of the summer, and he felt it.
“I felt a bit in the legs at, I would say 70, 70-something, but it's good to get the whole 90 minutes today.”
The win mattered, even in August.
“We needed to get the win today, to get that positive mentality going into the next week. So, we did good, clean sheet - good for the defenders - and, yeah, we're happy.”
He was honest enough to admit there’s still work to do without the ball.
“We have still some work to do to be more defensively set up. More help from the wingers, but it's going to come next week.”
That “next week” is St James’ Park. And he knows exactly what that means.
“A lot of guys needed 90 today. Need to be ready for Premier League intensity next week. You know how it is, especially Newcastle away, so it was good that a lot of guys got 90 minutes, definitely.”
Kerkez has felt that stadium as both underdog and heavyweight.
“I can remember last season how it was. Big difference for me when you play like Bournemouth at Newcastle and Liverpool at Newcastle, so I can't wait, really. I think my team-mates also can't wait.
“Fantastic atmosphere there, so we need to go and first game, need to get the three points, definitely.”
No easing into the season. Straight into the fire.
New faces step up
The night against Como also belonged to Liverpool’s debutants. Jeremy Jacquet marked his unofficial first outing with a goal and an assured display that impressed those around him.
“He was brilliant, really,” Kerkez said of the Frenchman. “Defensively, calm on the ball. Confidence is what we need. Plays hard, plays aggressive - Liverpool style of play, definitely. Really, really good.”
Ronald Araujo, introduced after the break, left his own mark.
“Araujo when he came in second half was aggressive, made a few tackles. So was good. JJ good. We were solid.”
Behind them, Alisson did what Alisson does.
“Ali, great, great to keep balls out of the net, so feels good when you have a clean sheet. We have to keep going next week.”
Aggression, running, clean sheets, full-backs flying. Iraola’s blueprint is already visible. Newcastle away will show just how quickly Liverpool can turn that blueprint into a statement.
