Milos Kerkez says Liverpool must respond after ‘disappointing’ Manchester City defeat

Milos Kerkez says Liverpool must react to their “disappointing” defeat by Manchester City when they face LASK in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Liverpool travel to Austria for a 19:45 BST kick-off in the second round of the competition’s league phase, looking to put their domestic setback behind them.

“We were very disappointed after the Manchester City match,” Kerkez said at his pre-match news conference.

“We competed really well during the first 60 minutes, and then what happened happened. We focused on recovery the following day, and today we are also giving our best to be 100% ready for tomorrow.

“We will move forward. Tomorrow is a new opportunity and we have to be ready.”

Liverpool were beaten by Manchester City in the Premier League, with Kerkez acknowledging the frustration within the squad after their performance began positively before the match turned against them.

The 21-year-old also discussed the influence of manager Andoni Iraola, who previously coached him at Bournemouth and is now in charge at Liverpool.

“All the players are adopting Iraola’s philosophy,” Kerkez said. “I think we run a lot and play with more intensity and in a more attacking way.

“There is still a long way for us to go and plenty to improve, but I think we are heading in the right direction.”

Liverpool’s match against LASK is followed by another Premier League fixture on Saturday, when they host Brentford in the seventh round of the season.

However, they will be without Alexander Isak, Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo in the squad travelling to Austria for the game against LASK Linz.

Kerkez also provided an update on his fellow Hungarian international Szoboszlai, who is recovering from injury.

“He is recovering,” Kerkez said. “I know him very well. He does not like to be out for a long time and wants to play every match, so I think he wants to play on Saturday.”

Liverpool’s remaining league-phase fixtures in the Champions League are against Inter away, Porto at home, Club Brugge away, Villarreal at home, Fenerbahce away and Lens at home.