After two contrasting campaigns under Arne Slot, one historic and one not so good, everyone at the club appears to be relishing a fresh start under new head coach Andoni Iraola. Well, this appears to be no more so the case than Miloš Kerkez. The Spaniard brought the Hungarian left-back to English football from AZ Alkmaar, with Bournemouth paying £14 million for his signature. After two seasons by the South Coast, named in the PFA Team of the Year in 2024/25, he was sold to Liverpool for almost three times that, enjoying an up and down first year on Merseyside.
Now though, reunited with Iraola, he is optimistic about the forthcoming campaign. Speaking to the club's official website on Monday, Kerkez had this to say about Iraola's style of play:
"I like it. You see me higher. I can play higher, going one against one... I think the heavy Liverpool team that Liverpool used to be – press, front foot, everyone in front. Like I said, front-foot, full pressing... The big difference is going to be, I think, the pressure, the pressing, the aggressiveness in our game this year"Miloš Kerkez
The 22 year old also added that Liverpool supporters will be key to the team executing Iraola's tactical game plan:
"Anfield, obviously, is going to push us a lot, give us also that energy. When they see us pushing a lot, they're going to give us big support home and away... We know what we have to do. A big season ahead."
One of the biggest criticisms thrown at Slot's team last season was a lack of intensity, both in training and then more importantly in matches. Following May's demolition at the hands of Aston Villa, the now departed Mohamed Salah asserted that "I want to see Liverpool go back to being the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear". Well, it looks like the Egyptian King will get his wish.
Iraola's teams, both at Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth, were renowned for their pressing. Across his three years at the Vitality Stadium, the Cherries always ranked highly when it came to Passes Per Defensive Action (PPDA), a metric used to measure pressing and out of possession intensity.
Iraola will certainly bring that to Anfield, and Kerkez is likely to be key to his success. The Hungarian obviously understands more than any of his team mates what Iraola demands, and this is a style that should certainly get the best out of Kerkez's attacking tendencies.
In his young career, the left-back has made more appearances under Iraola (74) than any other coach, ahead of Pascal Jansen (57) and Slot (48). With Andy Robertson now having departed, joining Tottenham, Kerkez is poised to be the undisputed first-choice left-back, with Kostas Tsimikas his understudy, having returned from a season-long loan at Roma. With so much else to do in the transfer market, needing a centre-back and a winger first and foremost, left-back is likely to be left alone.
Next up on this pre-season tour of the United States, the Reds will face Wrexham at Yankee Stadium in New York City, with Kerkez stating "obviously I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully big support there and we're going to put on a great performance for the fans". After that, Iraola's team will take on Leeds United at Solider Field in Chicago on Sunday, seeking more victories, following Saturday's 4-2 victory over Sunderland in Tennessee.
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