Milos Kerkez Embraces Liverpool Legacy with Influences from Former Left-Backs

Liverpool fans are getting used to hearing from new players this summer, having secured their third signing on Thursday. The Reds have more than made up for a quiet window last year and have moved quickly to tie up a trio of new additions. The latest to join Arne Slot’s revolution at Anfield is Milos Kerkez, who put pen to paper on a five-year deal on Thursday. Kerkez instantly declared his joy at joining Liverpool, where he is likely to become Slot’s first choice at left-back. Whether he’ll share those duties with Andy Robertson will depend on whether the Scotsman opts to capitalise on interest from Atletico Madrid. Should Robertson go, Kerkez will certainly be disappointed. During his first interview with LFCTV, the Hungarian named Liverpool’s No. 26 as well as a Reds full-back from the early 2000s as two of his inspirations.

Milos Kerkez highlights John Arne Riise inspiration. If Robertson is everything an attacking, Liverpool full-back should be, then Kerkez is very much in his mould. There are differences between Robertson and Kerkez, but there are many more similarities as well. That was something the 21-year-old alluded to as he sat down to speak for the first time following his signing. Interestingly, Kerkez also said he’d been watching a lot of clips of former Liverpool left-back John Arne Riise. Told that fans may see some similarities between himself and Riise, Kerkez suggested that he has been modelling his game on the Norwegian. How good was John Arne Riise? If Kerkez is something like a mix between Robertson and Riise then Liverpool fans have a lot to be excited about. Until Robertson came along, the former Norway international was the most notable Reds left-back of modern times. Having been a big part of the treble-winning side of 2001, Riise was also a key player in the legendary Champions League comeback win in 2005. There was a decline in the later part of his Liverpool career, but by and large Riise is still remembered with a great deal of fondness at Anfield. The power in his left foot was notoriously incredible, and his penchant for long-range shooting has not been matched since his exit in 2009. If Kerkez can match even half of Riise’s illustrious spell with Liverpool, he’ll be doing well.