Image Credits: Imago Images
When Milos Kerkez arrived at Liverpool from Bournemouth for £40 million in June 2025, expectations were sky-high. The Hungarian had just completed a stellar 2024-25 campaign at the Vitality Stadium that saw him named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year—the first Cherries defender to earn that honour in the club’s top-flight history.
With two goals and five assists across all 38 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth, Kerkez had established himself as one of the division’s most exciting young full-backs.
But for the opening months of the season, it did not seem like Liverpool were seeing the player Kerkez was at Bournemouth. The 22-year-old appeared caught between two minds – unsure whether to bomb forward as he had done so effectively at Bournemouth or sit deeper to provide defensive cover for Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate. The tactical uncertainty led to positional lapses.
Kerkez himself admitted he needed some time to adapt, saying in his pre-Marseille press conference: “I think yes, when I came here, I think every player needs a bit of time to adapt because you come to one of the biggest clubs in the world. I got help from everyone; from the boss, from the players, from staff, from everyone. I think in the last month or so I improved in a lot of areas but I am still not satisfied and of course I want more, and everyone is going to help me to do it.”
And Liverpool fans are taking note. One Reds fans wrote on X last night: “Accept my apologies Milos Kerkez. I was way too quick to judge you. I can see now why you were voted the best left back in the Premier League last season.”
Kerkez responded back in a classy way, issuing a nine-word response: “It’s ok bro,critics give me even more fuel.”
It’s ok bro,critics give me even more fuel 🔴❤️
— Milos Kerkez (@kerkez_official) January 21, 2026
He has 29 appearances across all competitions this season, including 18 Premier League starts, and has contributed one goal. While those numbers don’t yet match his Bournemouth output, the trajectory is undeniably upward.
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