Liverpool’s Milos Kerkez explains tactical shift under Arne Slot and praises Andy Robertson support

Liverpool left-back Milos Kerkez on studying from Andy Robertson, Arne Slot’s calls for and constructing bonds

It’s simple to overlook that Milos Kerkez continues to be solely 21. The Hungarian left-back has already achieved milestones that almost all gamers a decade older would envy: a breakout marketing campaign at Bournemouth, a spot within the PFA Premier League Workforce of the Yr, and a £40 million switch to Liverpool.

Such a transfer, for that charge, inevitably brings scrutiny. But when Kerkez is feeling the strain of being thrown into one of many greatest roles in English soccer, he hides it effectively.

“It’s the identical for me,” he stated after Liverpool’s Merseyside derby win over Everton. “I’m simply right here to do my job. I need to enhance; I need to give the whole lot for the badge. Clearly it’s a must to adapt and the coach and the gamers are serving to me [with that] loads, so I’m bettering loads every single day.”

That willingness to pay attention, to take instruction, and to form his recreation to swimsuit the wants of his new membership has made him a fast match for Arne Slot’s system. Kerkez has began each league recreation to this point this season, solely withdrawn early at Burnley after choosing up a yellow card. Slot has already positioned huge belief in him.

Kerkez acknowledges that he has been requested to play a really completely different position at Anfield in comparison with the one he occupied on the south coast.

“I’m taking part in a bit completely different right here than [when] I performed in Bournemouth however I’m not listening an excessive amount of to exterior noise. I’m simply following what the coach is telling me so what he tells me I’m doing each week and that’s what’s going to maintain me taking part in,” he defined.

“Typically I’m dropping decrease to play and to maintain the ball. In Bournemouth, I performed I might say a bit extra on the upper line and had a bit extra freedom. However right here, you play extra for the staff, for factors and to win so it’s a must to search for the staff. That’s extra essential than particular person performances, so we’ve to do what the coach tells us and that’s why we’re profitable video games.”

At Bournemouth, Kerkez usually charged ahead to stretch the play, tasked with being a continuing outlet in assault. At Liverpool, Slot calls for extra self-discipline. The complete-backs are instructed to handle transitions, recycle possession, and guarantee steadiness a accountability that requires maturity past his years.

Essentially the most hanging subplot to Kerkez’s rise is the presence of Andy Robertson. The Liverpool vice captain, a contemporary Liverpool legend, discovered himself linked with Atletico Madrid in the summertime however selected to remain, regardless of understanding his taking part in time would diminish. With a 12 months left on his contract, he has needed to adapt to a supporting position.

But relatively than retreat into the background, Robertson has embraced the accountability of guiding his successor.

“Earlier than the sport [against Everton] he motivated me, advised me: ‘Go exterior and do your factor that you simply have been doing final season’, so he gave me a little bit of a push,” Kerkez revealed.

“Then after the sport, he congratulated me and advised me that I ought to maintain going like that. We’re good. He’s a legend who did wonderful issues, gained the whole lot and nonetheless has high quality. It’s not like he’s not right here. He’s a squad participant. That is Liverpool, we’re competing. He’s pushing me, I’m pushing him and I feel that’s essential to have in a giant membership like this.”

That mix of rivalry and mentorship is strictly what Liverpool’s left facet wants. Robertson’s voice within the dressing room stays very important, even when his affect is now extra usually felt on the coaching floor than on the pitch.

Robertson is predicted to begin in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup tie in opposition to Southampton as Slot rotates closely probably making 11 modifications from the staff that beat Everton. However within the Premier League, the baton has already been handed.

Kerkez can also be benefiting from the collective means of gelling as a squad. Liverpool’s summer time recruitment introduced sweeping change, with Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak amongst these bedding in. For a younger participant, forging understanding with new teammates in such a aggressive setting might simply show daunting. As a substitute, Kerkez seems energised.

“With Virgil [van Dijk]I feel I’m constructing connection,” he stated. “Clearly we are actually taking part in extra and I feel we’re defending effectively. Everyone seems to be adapting to one another, even Flo (Wirtz) and Alex (Isak) and everybody who arrived so the whole lot wants a little bit of time to gel in. Clearly now we’re getting outcomes however I feel sooner or later it’s going to be actually, actually shiny.

“On the finish of the day, the end result and factors are essential. Even when the sport is typically not going our method, we’ve to proceed to win the sport. We at all times discover options so I hope that continues. We have now a variety of massive high quality gamers so we’ve to proceed.”

What stands out most is how relaxed Kerkez seems about his state of affairs. Many younger gamers may shrink below the glare of Anfield and the expectation of following in Robertson’s footsteps. As a substitute, Kerkez frames his alternative in easy phrases: pay attention, study, and ship.

It’s that readability which is incomes him the religion of Slot, the respect of senior teammates, and the approval of supporters. Liverpool knew they have been shopping for potential once they invested so closely in him. Already, although, Kerkez is trying much less like a chance and extra like a cornerstone.