‘Exciting times ahead’ for Liverpool under Iraola, predicts Kerkez

Milos Kerkez believes there are “exciting times ahead” for Liverpool under Andoni Iraola as he reunites with his former boss at Anfield ahead of the 2026-27 season. 

Iraola was appointed as Arne Slot’s successor last month and has already begun work on turning Liverpool’s fortunes around after a difficult Premier League title defence.

Liverpool finished fifth, a year on from their record-equalling 20th top-flight title, resulting in Slot being relieved of his duties and Iraola being appointed as their new head coach. 

The Reds’ 24-point drop between 2024-25 and 2025-26 was the largest by any ever-present Premier League side in those seasons, despite spending £450m in the summer. 

Kerkez was one of those arrivals, having joined from Bournemouth, where he impressed under Iraola and made 74 appearances across all competitions for the Cherries.

His combative displays earned him a reported £40m switch to Anfield, but he struggled in the early parts of the campaign and was fighting for his place with Andy Robertson.

But the 22-year-old impressed as the season went on, and he is now looking forward to a fresh beginning under the coach who gave him his break in the Premier League. 

“I’m really happy they’re here,” Kerkez told Liverpoolfc.com. “I think we had a really great time together in Bournemouth.

“When I saw that he [Iraola] was coming, when I heard about it, I was obviously really happy. I know him, I spent two years with them in Bournemouth.

“They know me, I know them and I know that they can bring a lot to the club – especially Andoni with the playing style, with the energy and how he wants his team to play.

“I think it suits Liverpool and I think it’s going to be really exciting times ahead.”

AXA Training Centre pic.twitter.com/qHfKAMj8Mm

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 14, 2026

Iraola’s final campaign in charge of Bournemouth capped three years of consecutive growth under his leadership, as they gate-crashed the top six in his final season at the helm. 

The Cherries broke their Premier League points record in each of his seasons in charge, achieving 48 in 2023-24, 56 in 2024-25 and 57 in 2025-26, with the latter tally seeing them qualify for Europe for the first time in the club’s history. 

Kerkez, meanwhile, was part of a Liverpool side whose 60 points last season were the fewest of any Premier League team to finish fifth or higher since Tottenham in 2006-07. 

When asked about his personal objectives for the campaign ahead, Kerkez replied: “I think I improved a lot [in my first season here]. The time that I was in England helped me.

“It’s my fourth year now in the Premier League, so definitely, even though I’m young, I feel a lot more experienced and [know] how things are going.

“[It is] my second year at Liverpool [and] the first year helped me a lot to get to know the club more, the fans and how things go around.

“I don’t like to talk too much about individual aims, it’s just that we’re playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world [and] it should always be [about] the team aim.

“I just want to perform the best to help the team win things, so I think if everyone has that mentality – do your best, 100%, fight for the badge – then the team is going to be good.

“So, just focus 100% to help each other win things. That’s the most important thing.”