After eight years playing at the top level, it was a surprise when Kerkez took the experienced Robertson’s place in the Liverpool team immediately after signing for £40 million from Bournemouth.
Although the Hungarian has struggled to adapt to life at Liverpool, he has largely remained Arne Slot’s first choice. He started 16 times this season, while Robertson played just nine games.
However, Kerkez believes the Scotland captain is still “very important” to the squad and was asked by him liverpoolfc.com whether competition for places would bring out the best in him.
The 22-year-old replied: “Especially me, I always love to compete and show the best version of myself.
“I think it’s always important and especially to have competition like Robbo. You always have to – when you play well, when you have competition like that – you always have to keep doing well.
“You know, if you don’t have any competition, then maybe it’s possible to be playing at the top and you start to fall and then you need someone to pick you up again. I think it’s very important.”
“It’s Liverpool, so there are a lot of games and you only need the best players here. That’s what we have.”
Milos Kerkez believes Liverpool are “coming together well”
One issue Kerkez faced was a slight change in his role from what was expected of him at Bournemouth.
This season he has often been asked to play as an inverted fullback, underlapping Cody Gakpo, who is clearly not yet on the same page as the youngster.
On building relationships with his teammates, Kerkez said, “It’s coming.
“We do a lot of video analysis and talk to each other with the coach and everything. With time everything works out and in the last few weeks some results have not been great and some have been good.”
“I think we’re getting along well and when you’re new – a few new players have come – you need some time. I know what it was like for me when I went to Bournemouth.
“You need time, but the most important thing is that you are ready to tackle everything: competition and to learn and improve. That’s how I am. I know that with time everything will work out in the team.”
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