Milos Kerkez makes alarming admission after latest Liverpool defeat

Liverpool was beaten 2-1 by Brighton at the Amex on Saturday — with Milos Kerkez equalizing for the Reds before Danny Welbeck scored the winner for the Seagulls

Milos Kerkez has spoken about Liverpool's recent form(Image: Getty Images)

Milos Kerkez acknowledged that tiredness played a part in Liverpool's performance following the team's 2-1 defeat at Brighton on Saturday.

The Reds undertook the 430-mile round journey to the south coast and endured their 10th league loss approximately 62 hours after they demolished Galatasaray 4-0 in the Champions League at Anfield on Wednesday to secure their place in the quarterfinals.

Kerkez, who will play for Hungary this week, found the net to level the score after Danny Welbeck's opening goal, but the Seagulls striker netted the second-half winner to inflict another significant blow to Liverpool's pursuit of Champions League qualification.

The Reds headed south, having managed just 20 minutes of training on Friday, and with the absences of Alexander Isak, Mohamed Salah, Conor Bradley, and Wataru Endo alongside goalkeeper Alisson, the Hungary left-back confessed that the squad found the compressed fixture schedule challenging.

"I think they definitely played well and had more chances," Kerkez said. "I think we didn't create as much as we wanted. It was a tough day — I think you could see some of us were maybe a little bit tired.

"But I don't like using it as an excuse. We know where we are in the standings in the Premier League, and we know we have to push. Of course, it's maybe a bit of an advantage (to Brighton), but still, very disappointed that we couldn't win."

Kerkez scored against Brighton at the weekend(Image: Getty Images)

Kerkez added: "It's tough. Hugo (Ekitike) went off early, and he really helps us a lot with deep runs and one-on-one actions. When Rio Ngumoha came on, he tried and was really good in one-on-ones, but on a day like this, we couldn't really create a lot."

Liverpool is set to return to the pitch when it faces Manchester City in the FA Cup quarterfinals on April 4.

When questioned if the international break arrives at an opportune moment, Reds head coach Arne Slot responded: "Yeah, it's a break for me, maybe it's a break for you, but it's not a break for the players.

"I saw this today for the first time, and maybe if I'm saying something wrong now, then I'm wrong, but I thought I read today (Thomas) Tuchel, the England national team manager, said to 15 players they had to come in later during the camp.

"And if I am correct, but I have to read all the names one more time, those were mainly the players that have played Champions League and played so many games this season. Unfortunately for us, it's the only country where we don't have internationals, so all the other ones will probably use our players again twice.

"I think, but it's also something I'm going to ask our data department, that a lot of our players are in the top 10 in terms of playing minutes, because I have so many times had to play the same players because of the model we are having, because of the injuries we are having.

"We don't have a big squad, we always have to come back to the same players. But these same players today showed character because I thought I saw that all the ones that played Wednesday were still able to compete in the end.

"Maybe not as fresh as they were Wednesday, but they didn't give up, and that's an important asset to have for the last period of the season."