The Liverpool head coach has discussed the form of Milos Kerkez as he prepares to face his former club AFC Bournemouth.
Arne Slot heaped praise on the progress that Milos Kerkez has made at Liverpool as he prepares to face his former club.
Kerkez will be back on his old patch when the Reds travel to AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The Hungary international recorded two goals and six assists for the Cherries last season, earning him a place in the PFA Team of the Year - and a £40 million transfer to Liverpool.
Kerkez immediately dislodged vice-captain Andy Robertson from the left-back role, although he endured a difficult start to his Reds career as he acclimatised to his new surroundings.
But the 22-year-old’s performances in recent weeks have been encouraging, with his display in the 3-0 win over Marseille in the Champions League. He also superbly quelled Bukayo Saka in a 0-0 draw against Arsenal earlier this month.
And Slot believes that Kerkez is getting ‘stronger and stronger’ the more games he plays for Liverpool. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Liverpool boss Slot said: “I think if we talk about Milos and a lot of signings we've made, you can see the progress they're making. In terms of adjustment to the team but also in power and being able, I don't think Milos was playing on the weekend and also in the week [at Bournemouth], but he is getting stronger and stronger in my opinion. It was a moment to give him that game during the week as well and he did really well in Marseille
"I told Sky Sports, if you look at each of our signings, they won't only be better this second half of the season but they'll be better next season and better the season afterwards. That is the way this club is run. We sign young players with a lot of room for development."
A key player for Liverpool this season has been Dominik Szoboszlai. Kerkez’s international team-mate has played in a variety of positions despite being a natural midfielder. In the Marseille win, Szoboszlai opened the scoring with a clever free-kick that went under the wall.
On Szoboszlai’s form, Slot said: "I think it always starts, if you want to be a leader, by leading by example. That's what he's done since the one-and-a-half years I'm here.
"He's always the one that without the ball is incredible in the way he can press – the intensity, he keeps running backwards, forwards. I think he improved this season on the ball compared to last season, where last season I always liked him.
"But this season he plays with even more confidence and is more often involved in chances and goals. He's having a good season, as some other individuals are as well."
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