Milos Kerkez has been speaking about the early period under Andoni Iraola, with Liverpool getting its first win of the campaign at Ipswich on Friday, when Alexander Isak scored two
Milos Kerkez of Liverpool is challenged by Abdul Fatawu of Ipswich
Milos Kerkez of Liverpool is challenged by Abdul Fatawu of Ipswich(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Milos Kerkez says the Liverpool players are currently only able to press with the intensity that Andoni Iraola demands for the first period of a game, before needing to become more compact.
Alexander Isak netted twice early on against Ipswich on Friday, with the Reds able to manage the game from there. And that could be the key to getting more positive results after consecutive 2-2 draws before that.
"When you press like us, it's a bit tough to do it for all the game and all the 90 minutes," Kerkez, who played for Iraola at Bournemouth before moving to Anfield in 2025, told club media.
"We can do it for the first 30 to 35 minutes and in some ways we can do that in the second half at the beginning — but then it's all about staying compact and talking to each other.
"That's what we said also that we need to improve, and as defenders, we are happy with the clean sheet. We defended pretty well their crosses and the set-pieces. Like I said, everyone was 100 percent focused."
Kerkez says the Liverpool players are "definitely" getting used to Iraola's demands. But the schedule is about to go up a notch, too, with the Champions League and Carabao Cup set to begin.
Kerkez has worked under Andoni Iraola before
Kerkez has worked under Andoni Iraola before(Image: Bill Barrett/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
"I think everyone felt better on the pitch and I think myself also when I look at it I'm getting more into the play and better," the left-back continued.
"Obviously it's a clean sheet. Particularly away, we know it's tough in the Premier League everywhere.
"We're happy, but we can't celebrate too much — now games come every three days and it's onto the next.
"It's your job to adapt (to the winger playing in front of you). That's why we have training sessions. I think with Cody [Gakpo] this year, we understand each other a lot better.
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"I think when Bradley [Barcola] came in we had good actions — I nearly gave him a pass through that was nice. But we're getting the understanding every day in training. We need to just keep going."
Liverpool faces Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, with three home games in seven days. The Premier League clash with Fulham is followed by Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.
Liverpool.com says: Kerkez is one of the players who looked well-suited to what Iraola wanted on paper, but there is more work for him to do. Just like with the team, it still needs some fine-tuning.