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Milos Kerkez has posted a message on social media after Liverpool beat Everton in the first Merseyside derby of the new Premier League season thanks to goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike.
The Hungary left-back impressed with a strong performance against Iliman Ndiaye at Anfield after a mixed start to life as a Liverpool player. Brought back into the team ahead of Andy Robertson, Kerkez justified his selection with a good showing.
"Liverpool will always be red," he posted on Instagram. Gravenberch and Virgil van Dijk were among those in the comments section who responded with red heart and raised hands emojis.
"I knew that game was really important for the fans, so a win today was important," Ekitike, another to be making his first appearance in this fixture told the Reds' official website.
"I felt the stadium and the crowd was very loud today. It’s a very proud feeling, happy feeling. We just have to keep going.
"[It] was a good first half. When they came back, it was a bit difficult with the 2-1. But we just kept the right mentality until the end and I think that’s what made the difference at the end."
"We needed mentality today in a different fashion maybe than the few times before," Arne Slot said in his post-match press conference. "But we always knew how difficult a game this would be, let alone if you have proper preparation time.
"But if you played your third game in less than seven days, against your rivals, then you know that the second half could be very tough — and that's why I made my line-ups throughout the week as I did, for the players to be ready for this one because this was the most intense from the three, we knew this before.
"You could see how well we can play if we are fresh — the first 45 minutes, unbelievable, the way we played. But the second half was more difficult because of Everton, of course, but also because we ran a bit out of energy. But we didn't run out of mentality.
"I think we managed the game really well, but we didn't manage some moments really well. This was also the thing I said before the game. There is a lot to like, but we have to understand a moment can change momentum.
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"This is what happened against Bournemouth, where we were 2-0 up, it was our game but a silly trick and we conceded [the] 2-1. The set-pieces against Newcastle, conceding just before half-time against Atletico Madrid when we also played so well in the first half.
"We have to understand a moment can change a game, no matter how well you play, no matter what you do, always fight for these moments.
"This is where we can improve a little bit, but we managed the game in general really well. I don't think they had a chance after they scored the 2-1, but it always feels a bit difficult if you're only 2-1 up."
Liverpool.com says: Kerkez put in his best performance to date in the derby. He was a solid performer and he seemed a little calmer and more collected in his actions, which is something that needs to stay.
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