Milos Kerkez has admitted he is enjoying being given the opportunity to play with more freedom offensively after being reunited with Andoni Iraola at Liverpool. The left-back endured a mixed first season at Anfield under Arne Slot following his £40m move from Bournemouth.
Big difference under Iraola
Kerkez spent two seasons with the Cherries under Iraola prior to his switch to Merseyside and has perhaps been best-placed to adapt to the new Liverpool head coach's demands after he took over from Slot earlier this summer. But even then, the Hungarian admits it is a big difference under the Spaniard compared to last season on the red half of Merseyside.
“Everyone hopes so (that Iraola can deliver special times),” Kerkez said when asked about how things are different under Iraola. “I mean, it's a big difference, obviously.
“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.
“You can see I have more freedom to fly up and down. I'm really running more, with more freedom, putting more balls into boxes.
“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.”
Ready for Newcastle opener
The Reds start their Premier League campaign away to Newcastle United on Sunday. And having come through 90 minutes in the 2-0 win over Como at Anfield that rounded off pre-season, Kerkez cannot wait for the new season to start.
“We're more ready. Everyone can't wait for the season to start next week,” he said. “I feel ready.
“Today is the first time playing 90 minutes. I felt a bit in the legs at, I would say 70, 70-something (minutes), but it's good to get the whole 90 minutes today.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
Praise for debutants
Meanwhile, Kerkez was also full of praise for debutants Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo following Liverpool's 2-0 win.
“He was brilliant, really,” he said of Jacquet after the Frenchman marked his unofficial Reds debut with a goal. “Defensively, calm on the ball. Confidence is what we need. Plays hard, plays aggressive - Liverpool style of play, definitely. Really, really good.
“Araujo when he came in second half was aggressive, made a few tackles. So was good. JJ good. We were solid.
“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.”
