For many who have adopted Milos Kerkez’s journey from the streets of Serbia to Liverpool, the ‘not sensible’ dive that noticed him hauled off in frustration by Arne Slot on Sunday got here as no shock – and never simply because he had childhood ambitions of being an expert swimmer!
Former colleagues have informed Each day Mail Sport that Kerkez, 21, was let go by Speedy Vienna as an adolescent for ‘behavioural points’ and the actual fact he was ‘onerous to handle’, whereas former Hungary worldwide Adam Bogdan described him as ‘like a younger horse, kicking all the things’.
These sentiments sound like a personality assassination when taken out of context however they have been all meant to focus on how the Liverpool left again is a passionate soul who wears his coronary heart on his sleeve.
And the opposite references, which we’ll come on to, display that regardless of Kerkez being an emotional participant who could appear to be a purple card magnet, the Hungary worldwide has made a profession of proving individuals fallacious and is as mentally resilient as they arrive.
Slot, who hauled off the brand new man within the thirty eighth minute of the 1-0 win at Burnley, could not have full belief simply but however others do, not least sporting director Richard Hughes, who signed Kerkez at each former membership Bournemouth and now Liverpool. Heading right into a pivotal week during which the Reds start their Champions League marketing campaign in opposition to Atletico Madrid after which have simply two days to organize for a Merseyside Derby in opposition to in-form neighbours Everton, although, the battle for supremacy at left again for Liverpool is broad open.
Does Slot go along with his tried-and-trusted possibility in skilled vice-captain Andy Robertson, 31, in opposition to Diego Simeone’s dark-art masters and David Moyes’s free-flowing assault – or does he preserve religion within the man who has began all 4 league video games thus far in Kerkez?
Milos Kerkez dives in opposition to Burnley on Sunday, an offence which noticed him booked
Liverpool boss Arne Slot then determined to take Kerkez off for Andy Robertson in simply the thirty eighth minute
Slot explains his causes for making the early change to a disenchanted Kerkez
Wanting on the knowledge, the 2 are well-matched. Kerkez’s per-game statistics this 12 months present he’s higher than Robertson at defensive duels and tackles (in comparison with Robertson’s numbers per 90 minutes from final season), although the Scotsman is forward in attacking metrics.
Slot is ruthless and all of his selections are fuelled by a need for outcomes however the final participant he took off for tactical causes so early in a match was Jarell Quansah, within the league opener final 12 months in opposition to Ipswich City. The defender, who was being bullied in that recreation, is not on the membership, for the file.
There may be additionally the sub-plot that, if issues had gone ever so barely in a different way in June, Robertson can be lining up as an Atletico participant on this recreation. The Madrid giants have been assured of signing the Scottish captain in the summertime after talks – however in the end a deal was by no means struck.
Kerkez was hauled off in opposition to Burnley as a result of, as Slot informed the participant, he nervous he was about to get despatched off after selecting up a yellow card for simulation in what was a poor dive on the lookout for a penalty. Breaking down Scott Parker’s cussed, well-drilled low block was onerous sufficient with 11 males, not to mention with 10.
The primary month of Kerkez’s Liverpool profession is finest described, due to this fact, as one in all combined critiques. Defensively poor (though so was everybody) in wins over Bournemouth and Newcastle, extremely strong in opposition to Arsenal after which shaky once more at Turf Moor.
‘When he first got here into the nationwide workforce, he introduced the place alive, made loads of jokes, and made it enjoyable to be within the constructing,’ Bogdan, the previous Liverpool and Hungary goalkeeper, tells Each day Mail Sport. ‘My mates at AZ Alkmaar (Kerkez’s former membership) completely adored him, the work-rate, the hassle. At his native workforce in Hungary, Gyor, they inform me he was like a “younger horse”, kicking all people however with sheer dedication and liveliness!
‘When you go searching Europe at left backs by way of the flexibility to bomb ahead but in addition defend one-on-one, he has confirmed that, coupled along with his mentality, he’s completely prime class. He’s so keen and confident that he belongs on the prime.
‘Milos is only a good lad. However he’s not the type to return right into a constructing and be quiet for the primary half of the season. He’ll settle in immediately. He’s going to be a very good match with Robertson. He’s desperate to be taught, that mixture is one thing to be actually pleased with.
Kerkez celebrates along with his pal Dominik Szoboszlai, who was a significant factor in his Hungary team-mate becoming a member of Liverpool
Kerkez battles with Antoine Semenyo of Bournemouth on a tough evening for the total again
‘I spoke to Milos, he’s very well mannered, very clear in his thoughts, is aware of how a lot he has sacrificed and put in to get the place he’s.
‘He’s a brilliant enjoyable man, it’s all the time good to have him round, and he has the self-confidence which is totally important at a prime workforce with these pressures.’
That final bit is vital. He has the self-belief to recover from this so-called setback, and Kerkez can have realized that each minor slip-up is micro-analysed to the nth diploma at a membership this measurement.
With respect to Bournemouth and AZ Alkmaar, at these sides it might have been forgotten about by 5pm that day.
There may be additionally the truth that Kerkez continues to be solely 21, as Robertson himself was at pains to level out on Sunday, saying: ‘All the brand new signings are younger however have unbelievable potential and they’re the way forward for the membership. He would be the beginning left again for Liverpool sooner or later.
‘It is as much as me to push him this season and assist him enhance. He has a improbable future forward of him and he simply must preserve working onerous and never let it have an effect on him, which it will not as he is a assured lad.
‘I will assist him as a lot as I can however I do wish to play video games!’
Off the pitch, Kerkez has a robust household behind him and loves spending time along with his canine, whereas his dad and mom lived with him in Poole earlier than his transfer up north. His brother, Marko, performs soccer within the Dutch prime flight.
Burnley gamers protest after Kerkez falls to the ground looking for a penalty at Turf Moor
Kerkez sees eye to eye with Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon earlier this season
His finest pal in soccer is Dominik Szoboszlai, the Hungary captain, which was an enormous consider his resolution to decide on Liverpool over the likes of Manchester Metropolis and Manchester United, who each confirmed curiosity this summer time.
Even when what occurred on Sunday was perceived as a bump within the street for Kerkez, his team-mates don’t suppose so, with Virgil van Dijk saying on Tuesday: ‘Milos is a improbable, aggressive, full-of-energy participant who’s studying the best way of how we play and the depth.
‘He’s coping with how it’s off the pitch, which isn’t straightforward. He’s going to be nice.’
Requested how reacted to the substitution, Slot added: ‘Within the workforce conferences they by no means disagree with me however possibly when they’re speaking to their father or their girlfriend they might say “what a silly resolution!”.
‘I highlighted when he made a foul, six of their gamers went over to the referee and the referee waved his arms so for me that mixture (was the rationale for the substitution).
‘He (Kerkez) mentioned he understood however I don’t know what he says to his mates!’
Kerkez has began each league recreation for Liverpool this season since his £40m transfer from Bournemouth
However Liverpool legend Robertson (left) will provide stiff competitors to the Hungarian at left again
Kerkez, who was born in Serbia however performs for Hungary on the request of his grandmother, sacrificed loads in his youth profession and as soon as informed a Budapest newspaper: ‘No two faces. How I’m on the pitch is how I’m outdoors of it. I’m not pretending to be one thing.
‘I reside merely. I’d somewhat go house for my trip and be with household or mates in my hometown than journey to Ibiza.
‘All the time keep in mind the place you’ve come from, don’t change, simply get on with it and keep humble. That’s what my dad says.’
This mentality is why Liverpool splashed the money on the so-called ‘younger horse’ and one-time wannabe Michael Phelps – and it’s why Kerkez believes he can wrest the No 1 left-back spot from Robertson, among the finest within the league’s historical past.
