LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's Milos Kerkez before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. The game ended in a goal-less draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's Milos Kerkez before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. The game ended in a goal-less draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Milos Kerkez has said he thinks Liverpool need to take recovery “seriously,” after the Reds’ performance levels dropped dramatically from midweek.
While Liverpool’s win over Atletico Madrid wasn’t perfect, there was certainly plenty to get behind and, most importantly, Andoni Iraola’s side emerged with three points.
The same couldn’t be said of the team on Saturday, as they struggled to get going in their 0-0 draw against Fulham.
Kerkez started on Wednesday but was dropped to the bench for the league match. However, Kostas Tsimikas was poor in the first period so the Hungarian returned to his left-back berth at half time.
Speaking on Viaplay, Kerkez blamed Liverpool’s lack of aggression for their performance against Fulham and suggested that recovery needs to be taken more seriously.
Milos Kerkez med @JanAageFjortoft etter uavgjortkampen mot Fulham pic.twitter.com/zUrTyFONzS
— Viaplay Fotball (@ViaplayFotball) September 12, 2026
“It’s tough when the physical outputs that every player had against Atletico is very high – we really fought during that game,” said the full-back.
“Before that we had Ipswich away, intense game also, then you have to play against Fulham that likes to play, that likes to move you and you have to run a lot.
“It’s tough but I think it’s more mental, a more mental thing in the head, and you have to take recovery very seriously at this level.
“We were not 100 percent I think in the duels and winning those balls, they won a lot more.”
Dominik Szoboszlai won just one of his 10 duels against Fulham; Ryan Gravenberch won four of his seven.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai (R) and his Hungary compatriot Milos Kerkez during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. The game ended in a goal-less draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai (R) and his Hungary compatriot Milos Kerkez during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. The game ended in a goal-less draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
While Kerkez certainly has his faults, his lack of aggression is not one. The Hungarian provided more impetus than Tsimikas when he came on, but there was still a lack of quality in the final third.
It was put to Kerkez that despite the players’ physical exertion against Atletico, Liverpool will still be expected to perform three days later.
The 22-year-old responded: “Yeah, it’s normal, and that’s why I say every player has to take recovery very seriously and has to focus.
“When you come in, doesn’t matter how much minutes you play or if you start, if you don’t start, you have to come and fight for the club, for the badge and that’s what I try to do every time I step on the pitch.
“I think everyone has to have mentality like that because, like I say, we play for Liverpool and we need to be 100 percent on the same page and fight for each other.”
Football – FA Premier League – Liverpool FC v Fulham FC
Football – FA Premier League – Liverpool FC v Fulham FC
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola during the pre-season friendly match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture date: Sunday August 9, 2026.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola during the pre-season friendly match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture date: Sunday August 9, 2026.
2026-09-12-118-Liverpool_Fulham
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 12, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. The game ended in a goal-less draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)