Milos Kerkez Thrives Under Iraola at Liverpool

Milos Kerkez walked off Anfield with a spring in his step and a familiar voice in his ear. Different club, same demands. Andoni Iraola is back in his footballing life – and the Hungarian left-back is thriving on it.

Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Como to close out pre-season was routine on the scoreboard, but for Kerkez it felt like a statement. This is what he was bought to do. This is the version of him Iraola first unleashed at Bournemouth, now transplanted onto a bigger stage and a louder stadium.

Iraola’s Liverpool, Kerkez’s freedom

Kerkez’s first year at Anfield under Arne Slot never fully caught fire. A £40m move from Bournemouth brought expectation, but also caution. His game was often measured, his runs timed rather than relentless. Now, the shackles have gone.

“We play really aggressive. We need to run a lot more,” he said, outlining Iraola’s blueprint with a hint of relish rather than complaint. “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.”

The difference for him is obvious.

“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.”

This is the Kerkez Iraola knows. At Bournemouth, the Spaniard handed him trust and responsibility. At Liverpool, he is doing it again.

“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.”

The message is clear: run, press, attack. Repeat.

Legs burning, season looming

Against Como, Kerkez finally banked what every player craves a week before the real thing: 90 full minutes.

“Today is the first time playing 90 minutes,” he said. “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 scoreline mattered, too. So did the clean sheet.

“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.”

Happy, but not satisfied. Not yet.

“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 no gentle easing-in. It is Newcastle away to open the Premier League season – one of the most demanding fixtures on the calendar, physically and emotionally.

“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 already lived that experience from both sides. He hasn’t forgotten.

“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.”

That is the standard now: no easing in, no free hits. Just three points, or disappointment.

New faces, familiar standards

Pre-season is also about new faces bedding in, and Kerkez reserved special praise for two of them after the Como win: Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo.

Jacquet, on his unofficial debut, marked the occasion with a goal and a composed display.

“He was brilliant, really,” Kerkez said. “Defensively, calm on the ball. Confidence is what we need. Plays hard, plays aggressive – Liverpool style of play, definitely. Really, really good.”

Araujo, introduced after the break, left his own mark with his intensity.

“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.”

That is where this all leads. The running, the aggression, the tactical shifts, the new partnerships. Kerkez has his freedom back, Iraola has his runner back, and Liverpool have a left-back who suddenly looks built for the chaos his coach craves.

Now comes St James’ Park, the noise, the intensity, the test. If this is the new Liverpool under Iraola, Newcastle away will show just how far along they already are.