Liverpool defender Milos Kerkez scored the only goal as Hungary claimed a 1-0 win over Georgia in the Nations League in Budapest on Friday night. The left-back latched onto a cross from Daniel Lukacs to put his country in front in the 35th minute.
The header was enough for Hungary to clinch all three points in the Nations League contest, with Marco Rossi's side now in third place in Group B2, behind Northern Ireland and Ukraine. Kerkez went on to help Hungary keep a clean sheet against Georgia and will now look forward to the national team's next fixture against Ukraine on Monday night.
Celebration aimed at critics
Soon after Kerkez found the back of the net, the Liverpool star wheeled off in celebration and immediately used his hands to perform a 'keep talking' gesture towards the crowd. The celebration comes after the Liverpool defender was the subject of boos from fans during Hungary's Nations League clash against Northern Ireland earlier this week.
Home supporters in Belfast jeered the Hungary players on Monday evening, with Kerkez and his Liverpool teammate, Dominik Szoboszlai, getting the majority of the negative attention. The game ended in a goalless draw, but Kerkez and Szoboszlai were both regularly booed by the home support in Northern Ireland, with The Irish News suggesting in a report that the pair's allegiances to Liverpool may have been a reason.
Media reaction in Northern Ireland and Hungary
There was also some animosity toward the behaviour of the Hungary players, with Kerkez and Szoboszlai being mentioned in the local media. The Irish News article read: "Some traditions are worth preserving, even I'll admit. One of those is the relentless booing of Liverpool players, even before they do anything wrong."
The article continued: "Left-back Milos Kerkez got some early 'treatment' as Paddy Kelly put in an excellent first half on the NI right. Such was the hosts' superiority that when skipper Szoboszlai tried to get his Hungary team going, he had to drop back to the edge of his own box to receive the ball."
"He was more successful at riling the home support, with a series of complaints to the referee, so when the Anfield star went to take a corner at this Kop end the boos were deafening. Shea Charles took ball and man – that man being Szoboszlai – in a challenge midway through the second half. Szoboszlai leapt to his feet and waved his arms, almost 'geeing' up the gleeful home support, rather than the very vocal travelling contingent who were in the corner on that North Stand side."
Hungarian publication Csakfoci responded to the criticism by publishing a headline which read: "Booing 'the evil Szoboszlai' is a tradition, the Irish captain (Shea Charles) was hung by 'the simulating Hungarians.'"
Return to Premier League action
Liverpool will be hoping that both Kerkez and Szoboszlai return from international duty with Hungary fully fit and ready to resume the Premier League campaign. The Reds are back in top flight action on Sunday, October 11, when they will host Manchester City at Anfield.
