Kerkez surprised by Slot's departure BUT believe Iraola bringing clear changes to Liverpool

Andoni Iraola is already making a noticeable impact on Liverpool's squad during their U.S. preseason tour, according to Kerkez speaking to ESPN.

CHICAGO -- Kerkez was still asleep when news broke that Liverpool had sacked manager Slot, less than a week after a disappointing 2025-26 season. The decision was logical, but the Dutchman's departure came so quickly that several players were caught off guard.

"I was surprised. I really didn't know," Kerkez told reporters, including ESPN, at Liverpool's preseason hotel in downtown Chicago. "I was in Serbia, still asleep, and my brother woke me up. He knocked on my door, and it was a really big surprise. Nobody knew. I couldn't believe it. I was like, 'Wow.' I've been in touch with him ever since, and we've exchanged a few messages."

This was probably not the trajectory Kerkez envisioned when he joined Liverpool from Bournemouth for £40 million last summer. He arrived just weeks after Liverpool surprisingly won the Premier League title in Slot's first season in charge. The past 12 months have been a challenging period of adaptation for both the defender and Liverpool.

In the final round of last season, Liverpool ultimately secured Champions League qualification by finishing fifth. After a difficult start at Anfield, Kerkez became one of the few bright spots in the team's dismal season. Even so, it is still believed that the Hungarian international has not yet fully unleashed his potential, which is why he is looking forward to reuniting with former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. Iraola replaced Slot as Liverpool manager last month.

Speaking about his reaction to Iraola's appointment, Kerkez said, "Honestly, I'm incredibly happy. I've worked with him before, and in the two years I spent with him, he helped me a lot and made me improve significantly. Of course, I'm happy, not just for myself, but also for the team. Everyone knows his style of football, so I think he's a perfect fit for us."

In fact, it was Iraola's proactive, aggressive, and aesthetically pleasing style of football at Bournemouth that quickly made him the top candidate to succeed Slot. The Basque coach led his first preseason match for Liverpool last Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee, where the team defeated Sunderland 4-2. Although the Reds still have a long way to go, the early signs are encouraging.

"The key is intensity," Kerkez said. "He's not afraid to have the team play one-on-one across the entire pitch, press aggressively, and always be proactive. If you see everyone lying on the ground after training, you'll understand what he's preparing us for. You have to be physically fit and in good condition to do what he asks, but we'll be fine.

"He's very professional. He chats occasionally, but not too much. I think he might not want to get too close to certain players, but rather wants everyone to understand that everyone on the team is equal, so he doesn't want to be particularly close to anyone. He always maintains professionalism, and the training volume is also very high."

After Liverpool arrived in Chicago last week, the intensity of training increased. Iraola has been alternating between single and double training sessions to help players get into shape as quickly as possible before the new season.

The new Liverpool manager was known for his high-intensity training at Bournemouth, and he has brought many of the same methods to his new club, including a game called "Consequences" – a small-sided game where the losing team faces punitive runs.

This intensity is certainly not easy, but Kerkez doesn't seem to mind. The 22-year-old still appears to be one of the Liverpool dressing room's cheerful characters during this in-depth conversation in Illinois. He said that this summer he received many congratulatory messages from friends and colleagues who mistakenly thought he was getting married because he posted photos of his brother Rad's wedding on social media.

As the youngest of three brothers—his brother Marko is also a professional footballer for Aris in Greece—Kerkez currently lives in England with his parents, Sebastian and Tijana. After moving to Merseyside, the family became close friends with Liverpool fan and UFC fighter Paddy Pimblett. Kerkez said his father not only keeps him grounded but also drives him to training every day.

"They are very important," Kerkez said. "My brothers now have their own lives, but my parents are with me, and I'm happy they're with me. My mom, my dad. He sometimes taps my head to remind me. Sometimes, after a few good games, you might get a bit carried away. But my dad is here to tap me awake, and I immediately come back to earth and refocus right away."

Despite his relaxed demeanor, staff at Liverpool's U.S. preseason camp have noticed that Kerkez – and fellow Hungarian teammate Szoboszlai – have taken on more responsibility during this tour, becoming some of the more senior players. While at Bournemouth under Iraola, Kerkez was named in the PFA Team of the Year, and there is optimism that Iraola's arrival at Anfield can take his game to new heights.

"He always tells me that defending is really important – for him, that's the first priority – and as a full-back, you have to defend well. Everything you do in attack is like a bonus," Kerkez said. "So I always focus on defending first, and then push forward to help the wingers.

"He made me understand that as long as you do your primary job well, you're free to do what you want, so I feel very free working with him. We were a good team back then. Obviously, it wasn't just me; we played very well as a whole. He gives you more freedom to do your own thing."

Despite significant progress last season, Kerkez knows he still has many doubters to win over at Anfield. He is taking over the mantle from legendary left-back Robertson, who moved to Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer last month. Kerkez said Robertson helped him a lot in his first season after joining the team.

The defender, born in Serbia, is eligible to represent Hungary through his maternal grandmother. He believes his upbringing in the Balkans – he revealed he learned to drive a truck at age 10 – has given him a more level-headed attitude towards the rigors of top-flight football.

"I don't like words like 'pressure'," Kerkez said. "My upbringing in Serbia was a bit different; that's just how we grew up. At the end of the day, it's just your job, and you just have to do your job. Of course, things will be harder—I've seen it since I got here—once you lose, things don't go your way. Obviously, as one of the biggest clubs in the world, you have to play well, but that's what comes with this job."

Kerkez and Liverpool's next test will come on Wednesday (CEST) when they face Championship side Wrexham at Yankee Stadium in New York. Afterwards, the team will return to Chicago to play Leeds United, before heading back to Anfield for their final two warm-up matches against Monaco and Como, in preparation for the official season opener against Newcastle United next month in the Premier League.

"Everyone is doing well," Kerkez said. "In the first few training sessions, they were still adapting, but now they're getting better and better. I think everyone likes Iraola's training methods. I like it, and everyone likes it. I think it will be a very good fit for the team."

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