Milos Kerkez has been talking about the Liverpool match against Newcastle United.
The opening Premier League fixture for the two teams.
A 4.30pm kick-off on Sunday as both Newcastle United and Liverpool look to try and get their seasons off to a perfect start.
So much change at both clubs this summer, on and off the pitch.
Newcastle United dropped off by 17 points last season compared to the 2024/25 one, whilst for Liverpool it was an astonishing 24 points less.
Milos Kerkez talking to official Liverpool media ahead of Sunday.
The Liverpool defender asked: “Newcastle United away first up is quite the challenge and last season’s game there was an absolute thriller, wasn’t it?”
Milos Kerkez replying: “Yeah, it was really good. Great atmosphere, it’s a great stadium with great fans. We expect the first whistle at the beginning of the game that for sure it will be explosive in the first 10, 15 minutes. After that obviously we want to be calmer, keep the ball and we need to get the result.”
That game almost a year to the day ago, saw Liverpool absolutely fluke the win at St James’ Park having been dominated by a Newcastle United team that had to play most of the match with only ten men due to Anthony Gordon’s red card.
Milos Kerkez then asked: “There’s been change all over the Premier League – particularly at Newcastle United, so you might not know what to expect from them this season. Does that mean you just have to focus on yourselves even more?”
The defender stating: “Obviously we have to focus more on ourselves because it’s new for the players, like you said, with the new manager and everything. I know how the manager works, what he wants, but the guys need some time and I think now we just need to focus on ourselves. Because if we do that, how he wants us to play, we are really, really dangerous.”
Milos Kerkez was one of the signings when Arne Slot went on his astonishing spending spree last summer and now he is set to be reunited with his former Cherries boss.
The full-back asked: “You know Andoni Iraola’s system really well from your time at AFC Bournemouth, so how well do you think the team has adjusted to the system he’s instilling here?”
Milos Kerkez responding with: “I think we are a lot better. Obviously it’s a new coach, a new philosophy, you need some time. Luckily we had him since the beginning of the pre-season, so it was good for the guys and they had more time. I think the last two weeks I would say Monaco and then against Como was even better. I hope against Newcastle we will be even better and ready. Totally different [now in playing style] in terms of high press and front-footed football. We want to have the ball, so we need to press quick, need to take the ball fast away from the opponent and after that just play and keep the ball.”