“It’s the Highest Level” – Milos Kerkez on his £40m Liverpool Move, Pre-Season and More | OneFootball

Milos Kerkez Brings Grit and Energy to Liverpool’s Pre-Season Charge

Liverpool’s pre-season has rarely lacked drama or dedication, but few moments have captured the raw edge of preparation quite like Milos Kerkez’s diving header tackle against Preston North End. In what was his first appearance for the club, the Hungarian left-back launched himself toward the ball, head-first, in a moment that encapsulated both his fearless attitude and his commitment to Liverpool’s cause.

“I lost balance and I had to jump somewhere. I was closer to jump with my head! I got the ball. I think it was a foul,” Kerkez told Liverpoolfc.com with a laugh, reflecting on the now-viral moment. “It’s me, you know, it’s how I play – I always give 100 per cent.”

It’s this kind of relentless energy that has quickly made Kerkez a figure of interest among Reds supporters. For a player brought in from AFC Bournemouth during the summer transfer window, such an approach sends a clear message to fans and teammates alike: he is here to fight for the badge.

Intensity, Heat and Purpose in Asia

Liverpool’s training camp in Hong Kong has offered no respite from the demands of top-level football. Under Arne Slot, fresh from delivering the Premier League title in his debut season, the standards have remained unforgiving. Kerkez has embraced the heat and intensity of the sessions as a necessary part of the preparation.

“It has been really good. Intense – that’s how we like to train,” he said. “We are adapting to the heat still but it’s good, all the guys train hard and we are getting really ready physically.”

Photo: IMAGO

That heat is more than just a test of fitness, it’s a means of building resilience. According to Kerkez, the work being done under the blazing Asian sun will pay off when the team returns to England.

“I think it will help definitely, when we get back to England then the lungs will open. So, I think it will help us a lot and we will get back really ready.”

Adapting to Life at a World-Class Club

Transitioning to Liverpool has brought its own challenges, but also reaffirmed Kerkez’s ambition. He acknowledged that the professionalism and high standards of the club still managed to surprise him, even with his prior experience in Serie A and the Premier League.

“Of course I know it is one of the biggest clubs in the world and when I came it just surprised me also how professional everything is and how high a level everything is,” he explained. “And that you really have to work hard every single day to compete. It’s the highest level.”

That level is exactly what he had been searching for, and the young defender is clear in his desire to rise to the challenge.

Old Friends and New Challenges Against Milan

This Saturday, Liverpool face AC Milan in their final match of the Asian leg of pre-season. For Kerkez, it’s a personal reunion as well as a professional outing. The full-back spent time at Milan earlier in his career, training with the first team and absorbing the culture of Italian football.

“Obviously I played there and trained a lot with the first team, know a lot of the guys,” he said. “It will be fun and will be good also for me to get more minutes and get adapted more to my teammates. I’m looking forward to it – it’s my old team and I have good memories there.”

As Liverpool’s pre-season continues, Milos Kerkez is not just finding his feet. He is planting them firmly, with grit, humour and a touch of madness – even if it means tackling with his head.