Milos Kerkez admission speaks volumes amid Andy Robertson battle at Liverpool

Liverpool's new star Milos Kerkez has opened up about the inspiring pep talk he received from team-mate Andy Robertson before the Merseyside Derby. Kerkez joined the Reds in a £40million move from Bournemouth this summer, effectively taking Robertson's place in the starting XI, but the Scot has embraced his new role under Arne Slot to help the team.

Liverpool clinched a 2-1 win against their local rivals at Anfield thanks to first-half goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike, despite Idrissa Gueye netting a consolation goal just before the hour mark in the 247th clash between the two clubs.

Kerkez, who made his derby debut, had an impressive performance, successfully keeping Everton's threat Iliman Ndiaye at bay while also contributing to several attacks, helping Slot's side maintain their perfect start to the season.

The Hungarian international is vying for playing time with veteran Robertson. The latter's significance to the squad was recently acknowledged by Slot when he awarded him the vice-captaincy following Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure.

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Despite facing stiff competition from Kerkez for his spot in the team, Scotland captain Robertson offered some words of encouragement to his younger colleague ahead of the win against David Moyes's Toffees, reports the Liverpool Echo.

"The relationship is really good," Kerkez revealed. "Before the game he motivated me, he told me: 'Go outside and do your thing that you were doing last season.' So he gave me a bit of a push. Then after the game he congratulated me and told me that I should keep going like that.

"We are good. He's a legend who did amazing things, won everything and still has quality. It's not like he's not here. He's a squad player. This is Liverpool, we're competing. He's pushing me, I'm pushing him and I think that's important to have in a big club like this.

"Like I say, I'm playing a bit different so I'm adapting to that. I would say on Saturday I could have more freedom. That was also from what the coach wanted me to do so like I said, I'm just going to do what he tells me in every game.

"With Virgil [van Dijk], I think I'm building a good connection. Obviously we are now playing more and I think we are defending well. Everyone is adapting to each other, even Flo (Florian Wirtz) and Alex (Alexander Isak) and everyone who arrived so everything needs a bit of time to gel in. Obviously now we're getting results but I think in the future it's going to be really, really bright.

"At the end of the day, the result and points are important. Even if the game is sometimes not going our way, we have to continue to win the game. We always find solutions so I hope that continues. We have a lot of big quality players so we have to continue."

Speaking about the match, Kerkez said: "Obviously we were [ahead] 2-0. I think we should have continued more with the pressure, intensity but obviously we were so intense in the first half that our energy dropped a bit. It's normal that we controlled the game a bit less and obviously they scored but we stayed mentally in the game until the end.

"It's the same for me. I'm just here to do my job. I want to improve, I want to give everything for the badge. Obviously you have to adapt and the coach and the players are helping me [with that] a lot so I'm improving a lot every day.

"I'm playing a bit different here than [when] I played in Bournemouth but I'm not listening too much to outside noise. I'm just following what the coach is telling me so what he tells me I'm doing every week and that's what will keep me playing.

"Sometimes I'm dropping lower to play and to keep the ball. In Bournemouth I played I would say a bit more on the higher line and had a bit more freedom. But here, you play more for the team, for points and to win so you have to look for the team.

"That's more important than individual performances so we have to do what the coach tells us and that's why we're winning games. Like I say, I'm playing a bit different so I'm adapting to that. I would say on Saturday I could have more freedom. That was also what the coach wanted me to do so like I said, I'm just going to do what he tells me in every game."

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