“I was delighted, honestly,” says Kerkez on discovering Liverpool’s choice to replace Slot. “He helped me and improved me a lot in the two years I spent with him. I was really happy, obviously for myself but also for the team. Everyone knows what type of football he plays so I think he is the perfect fit for us.
There were times last season when Kerkez appeared inhibited by Slot’s insistence on building from the back and full-backs coming inside. It was his pace and energy up and down the flank with Bournemouth that had attracted Liverpool and earned him a place in the Professional Footballers’ Association’s team of the year in 2024-25.
‘It’s the intensity. He’s not scared to play one-on-one all over the pitch, to press high and to be on the front foot always. If you see footage of how we all are after training – all lying down! – then you can see what he is preparing us for. “If you see footage of how we all are after training, all lying down, then you can see what he is preparing us for. You definitely needs legs and good condition for what he wants us to do, but we will be alright.
“He always told me that defending is really important, for him that is first of all, and because you are a full back you need to defend hard. Everything you can do in front of you is like a bonus. So I was always focused first on defending and then running forward to help the wingers. “He showed me that when you do your job then you are free to do what you want, so I felt free with him. We had a good team. It was not me, we were playing well as a team at that time. He lets you be more free to do your stuff.