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Milos Kerkez was surprised by "how professional everything is" at Liverpool after making a summer switch from Bournemouth.
The Reds signed Kerkez in a £40 million ($53.8 million) deal last month after an excellent season with the Cherries. The left-back played in all 38 Premier League games last term to be named in the division's Fan Team of the Season.
At just 21, Kerkez is being billed as a long-term successor for Andy Robertson, the veteran left-back who has helped Liverpool win nine honors over the last eight years. Yet the Hungarian knows he's got a lot of work to do to become a superstar at Anfield.
While speaking to Liverpool's website, Kerkez was asked if anything has surprised him about Arne Slot's squad since linking up with his new teammates. "Of course," he replied.
"I know it is one of the biggest clubs in the world, and when I came, it just surprised me also how professional everything is and how high a level everything is. And that you really have to work hard every single day to compete.
"It’s the highest level. That surprised me, but it’s also what I was looking for, so I’m really happy."
Kerkez played for Gyor in Hungary and AC Milan during his teenage years before impressing for AZ in the Netherlands. His form there persuaded Bournemouth to sign him in 2023.
Richard Hughes, Liverpool's sporting director, was in charge of Bournemouth's transfer business when Kerkez arrived in England. After Kerkez's outstanding 2024-25 season, many expected Hughes to swoop for the player again and bring him to Merseyside.
That's exactly what happened, and Kerkez is now looking forward to playing for Liverpool against Milan on Sunday. The Reds take on Kerkez's former club in Hong Kong in a repeat of the 2005 Champions League final, marking the game's two-decade anniversary.
"Obviously I played there and trained a lot with the first team, know a lot of the guys," said Kerkez about facing his former team.
"It will be fun and will be good also for me to get more minutes and get adapted more to my teammates. I’m looking forward to it – it’s my old team and I have good memories there."
After facing Milan, Liverpool travel to Japan to take on Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday before returning to Anfield for back-to-back friendlies against Athletic Bilbao on August 4.
Kerkez will get his first chance at winning silverware for Liverpool on August 10 when the Reds face Crystal Palace in the Community Shield. Palace qualified for that game by winning last season's FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Liverpool's opening Premier League game of the season is against Kerkez's former team, Bournemouth, on August 15.
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