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Former Liverpool left-back John Arne Riise says he messaged Milos Kerkez during the Hungary international's first few weeks at the club after the summer arrival mentioned that he looked up to him.
The Norwegian has been having his say on Kerkez's start to life under Arne Slot, with Liverpool's $54 million (£40M) addition from Bournemouth taking some time to settle at Anfield.
Having recently turned 22, there is plenty of time left for Kerkez to show his true potential on Merseyside, with Riise confident that the player who was named in the Premier League Team of the Season last year will soon appear.
"He took the No. 6 because I used to wear it, and so I texted him a few times after his move," Riise told Foot Italia. "I wished him well and all that kind of thing.
"You know, he's a very aggressive player that hasn't really shown his best yet. The one thing I see is that everything with him happens at 100 miles an hour. Sprinting, running, everything is always at a high tempo.
"I think that sometimes he can just maybe relax his playing style. I know that is who he is, but it looks so stressful sometimes. You can tell that he really wants to do well all the time, which is good. But sometimes he can maybe take more time.
"He’s been good in some games; others he’s struggled in.
"But I expect him to be fine because he knows the English game, and hopefully he will be more of an attacking threat also in the upcoming games."
Kerkez spoke about his admiration for Riise when he first came into the club, but he has not been able to showcase his full attacking skillset so far this season.
"Obviously, I watched a lot," Kerkez said in his first interview with club media when questioned on what he knew about the club when he arrived.
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"I'm 21, so I started to watch when I was 13, 14 and to be really into Liverpool. Obviously, I remember a lot of legends. Let's say, obviously, in the left-back [position], I watched a lot of clips of John Arne Riise.
"And [Andy] Robertson also I love a lot — I watched a lot of videos and games of him. For me, like I say, it's a real honour, a real privilege to come here and be a Liverpool player now. I just want to get going."
Liverpool.com says: Kerkez is very talented but he hasn't been able to show his full skillset just yet. In time, he will be more up to speed with the demands, and when he gets more comfortable, that speed and quality in the final third should come to the fore.
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