Kerkez knows what to expect from Iraola and is delighted to reunite with the head coach at Liverpool.

The left-back spent two seasons at Bournemouth before moving to the Reds a year ago. This summer, Iraola followed suit, appointed as Liverpool's new manager. Kerkez believes that the Basque coach's football philosophy and that of his coaching staff are a perfect fit for the new club.

"I'm really happy that they came," the Hungary international told Liverpool's official website. "I think we had a really good time together at Bournemouth. Of course, when I heard he was coming, I was very happy. I know him, I was with them for two years at Bournemouth. They know me and I know them, and I know they can bring a lot to the club – especially Andoni's coaching style, his energy in games, and the way he demands the team to play. I think it's a good fit for Liverpool, and it's definitely going to be very exciting in the future."

Kerkez went on to elaborate on what it's like to play for Iraola and be coached by him. "He's a good guy, of course. He's friendly. He'll tell you directly what he wants you to do, and then it's up to you to execute. If you can't, you won't play, it's that simple. But he's good, and as I said, he'll let you know what you need to do for him."

"He may not talk much, but he's very expressive emotionally. You can see him on the sidelines and at any time, he's very energetic. He's from Bilbao, and you know the tradition there is also like that, so as I said, I think he's a perfect coach for Liverpool, and the way he demands the team to play is also perfect. We just need to have a good pre-season, listen to his demands, and I think the team will be in good shape."

The 22-year-old had an excellent final season under Iraola, earning a spot in the PFA Premier League Team of the Season and being nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award. He believes Iraola's playing style perfectly matches his own characteristics.

"I had a great time with him, and obviously, he helped me improve a lot," Kerkez added. "In my first year at Bournemouth, we were constantly doing analysis, video analysis, and so on. He, assistant coaches Tommy Elphick, Shaun Cooper, and Pablo, everyone helped me a lot. Once I got on track, the second year was much better. I adapted better, and that's definitely thanks to him. He likes direct, high-pressing, front-foot football, which I think is also perfect for me. So, I think not just me, but many players will like it. I think it's good."

Kerkez was interviewed on the second day of pre-season training at the AXA Training Centre and is enjoying being back at work. "I'm happy to be back. To be honest, the holiday was a bit too long for me," he said. "I miss training, I miss football, so I'm happy to be back here. I had a lot of time with my family and enjoyed the break. But I felt that after about three weeks, I needed to get back to training, needed to play football, needed to return to Liverpool. So, yes, I've been training over there, and now it's really good to see my teammates and everyone with positive energy. We are focused and working hard to prepare for the new season."

Kerkez's first season at Anfield didn't go as smoothly as he had hoped, but the number 6 is eager to prove himself again in the 2026-27 season. "Last season was tough. We had ups and downs at times, but the important thing is that we know how to play this season and show that we are better prepared," he admitted. "We have to fight harder because at Liverpool, you have to fight for glory, you have to win trophies. What happened last season, you could say it was unacceptable, that's the truth. We have to make the club proud, make the fans proud, and hopefully, we can do that this year."

When asked about his personal goals for the new season, Kerkez replied: "I feel like I improved a lot in my first year at Liverpool. This experience in England has helped me a lot. This is my fourth year in the Premier League now, so, even though I'm still young, I feel much more experienced and have a clearer idea of how things should be done. In my second season at Liverpool, the first year helped me understand more about the club's history, the fans, and how everything works here. I don't like to talk too much about personal goals because we play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, and the goal should always be about the team. I just want to perform at my best to help the team win trophies. So, if everyone has this mentality – giving their all and fighting for the badge – then the team will be great. So, 100% focus and helping each other to win honors, that's what matters most."

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