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Milos Kerkez insists Liverpool still need the “really important” Andy Robertson, despite him being the Hungarian's direct competition.
Kerkez arrived this summer to challenge the experienced left-back, joining from Bournemouth for $53 million and quickly stepping into the role. Widely regarded as one of the Premier League’s standout left-backs last season, his signing marked the clearest indication yet that Liverpool were entering a new phase after Robertson’s long-established reign on Merseyside.
Although the Hungarian has faced some adaptation challenges, he has largely remained Arne Slot’s preferred option, making 16 starts this season compared to Robertson’s nine and it is unclear who will start against Brighton on Saturday.
Despite that, Kerkez maintains that the Scotland captain remains vital to the squad and was asked whether the competition would help bring out the best in him.
“Especially me, I always like to compete and show the best version of myself" the 22-year-old told the club's website. “I think it’s always important and especially to have competition like Robbo. You have to always – if you’re playing good, if you have competition like that – you have to continue to do good.
“You know if you don’t have competition then maybe it’s possible playing top and you start to drop and then you need someone to pick you back up again.
"I think it’s really important. It’s Liverpool, so there’s a lot of games and you need only the best players here. That’s what we have.”
One challenge for Kerkez has been adapting to a subtle shift in responsibilities from his time at Bournemouth. This season, he has frequently been deployed as an inverted full-back, underlapping Cody Gakpo, with the pair still working towards a better on-field understanding.
On developing relationships with his new teammates, Kerkez added: “It’s coming. We do a lot of video analysis and we talk between each other with the coach and everything.
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"With time everything comes good and in the last few weeks some results were not great and some were good. I think we’re coming good together and when you’re new – a few new players came – you need some time. I know how it was for me when I went to Bournemouth.
“You need time, but what is most important is that you’re willing to take on everything – competition and to learn and improve. I’m like that. I know with time everything will be good in the team.”
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