There are plenty of reasons for Liverpool supporters to be excited about next season.
Florian Wirtz.
Alexander Isak.
A fresh start.
A left-back with huge upside.
But there is one player I genuinely believe could surprise a lot of people.
Milos Kerkez.
It was a year ago today that Liverpool signed him, and I already think he’s an excellent left-back.
Under Iraola, however, I believe he could reach an entirely different level.
Already One of the Premier League’s Best Young Full-Backs
Kerkez has established himself as one of the brightest young defenders in English football.
He made 33 Premier League appearances for Liverpool last season, and in a side built around Slot’s aggressive pressing, he was trusted to cover huge spaces on the left side week after week.
Despite his age, he already possesses many of the qualities every modern full-back needs:
● Pace
● Aggression
● Stamina
● Defensive intensity
● Confidence going forward
You could see all of that in Liverpool’s biggest matches, where he repeatedly stepped high to press and still had the recovery speed to get back when opponents tried to break into the space behind him.
He rarely looks intimidated.
He enjoys attacking.
And he never seems afraid of hard work.
Those traits alone make him exciting.
He Already Knows Exactly What Iraola Wants
Perhaps the biggest reason for optimism is simple.
Kerkez has already worked under Andoni Iraola.
He understands the manager’s demands.
He knows the pressing triggers.
He understands the intensity expected every single week.
That familiarity could prove invaluable.
While many players spend months adapting to a new coach, Kerkez should already have a strong understanding of the football Iraola demands from his full-backs, and that should make the transition to Slot’s Liverpool much smoother.
Liverpool’s season was built on that intensity, and Kerkez was part of it from the start. In matches against top opposition, he was asked to jump out early, squeeze the pitch, and then recover into his own box if the press was beaten. That is exactly the kind of repetition Slot will want from him again.
Freedom to Attack
One aspect of Iraola’s football that suits Kerkez perfectly is the freedom given to full-backs.
Rather than simply defending deep, Slot expects his wide defenders to become genuine attacking weapons.
They press high.
Overlap constantly.
Provide width.
And create overloads in advanced areas.
Few players are better equipped to thrive in that role than Kerkez.
His engine seems endless.
He can sprint forward repeatedly without losing intensity.
That makes him a nightmare for opposing full-backs.
It also matters that he can do it without becoming reckless. Against elite wide players such as Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden, Kerkez has already shown he can get forward, recover, and still stay connected to the rest of the back line. That balance is exactly what Liverpool need from a modern left-back.
More Than Just an Attacking Full-Back
Sometimes people focus only on Kerkez’s attacking qualities.
That overlooks another important aspect of his game.
He is aggressive defensively.
He enjoys duels.
He recovers quickly.
And he is rarely passive when defending one-on-one situations.
Those qualities fit perfectly with Liverpool’s desire to defend higher up the pitch.
They also help explain why Liverpool could trust him in a side that spends long stretches pressing opponents into mistakes. Kerkez was often the player stepping out first, whether to stop a winger receiving on the touchline or to close down a loose ball before it became a transition.
Could He Become One of Europe’s Best?
That may sound ambitious.
But the potential is certainly there.
Full-backs continue to play an increasingly important role in modern football.
The very best are capable of influencing matches at both ends of the pitch.
Kerkez has the attributes to reach that level.
The challenge now is consistency.
If Slot can refine his decision-making while maintaining his natural aggression, Liverpool may have one of Europe’s outstanding left-backs for years to come.
Liverpool Fans Should Be Excited
Supporters naturally focus on glamorous signings.
Goalscorers.
Creative midfielders.
Big-money transfers.
Sometimes, however, the biggest improvements come from players already capable of reaching another level.
That is how I feel about Milos Kerkez.
The talent is already obvious.
A year after Liverpool signed him, he already looks like a player with a huge ceiling.
Now he has a manager who knows exactly how to get the best out of him.
And that is why I genuinely cannot wait to see what he produces next season.
If everything clicks, Liverpool supporters may be watching one of the Premier League’s best left-backs develop right before their eyes.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
Related