Liverpool again were unable to build on a positive prior performance, this time thrashing Galatasaray in a midweek fixture before putting forth another klunker in a very winnable match against Brighton on Saturday. The Reds looked extremely mid-table against a side they had beaten twice already this season. Left back Milos Kerkez provided one of the few bright spots as he leveled the game 1-1 in the first half before his side ultimately lost 2-1.
After the match, Kerkez said Liverpool were disappointed
in their lack of ability to create chances yet again. He felt there were some tired legs and minds after a quick turnaround.
“I think they definitely played good, had more chances. I think we didn’t create as much as we wanted and it was a tough day, definitely. You could see some of us were maybe a bit tired also. They did good, credit to them.”
Liverpool were not done any favors by the fixture gods, playing Wednesday night before having the early kickoff on Saturday. The Reds were further shorthanded with Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker missing through injury, and Hugo Ekitike needing to be substituted out with an injury after just 7 minutes. When asked if the short turnaround had an impact on Liverpool’s performance, Kerkez said he doesn’t feel like it is an excuse for how the team played.
“I don’t like this excuse. We know where we are in the standings in the Premier League and we know we have to push. I mean, of course, it’s maybe a bit [of an] advantage but [we are] still disappointed, very disappointed today that we couldn’t win.”
The young left back gave Liverpool a lifeline when he gambled on a long ball forward from
Giorgi Mamardashvili, continuing his run and anticipating the backward header from Lewis Dunk. Kerkez intercepted the ball and provided a first time finish on the bouncing ball. He said Dunk’s propensity to head or chest the ball back to the goalkeeper was something the squad had noted, so he felt it was worth taking the chance.
“The ball went back to Giorgi [Mamardashvili] and I made a deep run. I know he [Dunk] likes to give the balls to the goalkeeper with his chest and to head it back, so I just thought I’d continue the run. He sent it back and it was not a bad finish. But when you don’t go out with three points, it doesn’t really matter.”
Liverpool yet again need to get their heads screwed on straight after a disappointing loss. The Reds have three matches across three competitions, with knockout play in the FA Cup quarterfinals next Saturday and the Champions League quarterfinals the following Wednesday before returning to Premier League play in two weeks time as the Reds try to stay in the hunt for a top 4 finish. Milos Kerkez said the squad need to get healthy and refocused in a trio of very important matches.
“Straight away in the FA Cup we have City and then big games with PSG [Paris Saint-Germain], really important for us, and Fulham in between. So, all of these games are going to be massively important and we have to come back fit and ready.”
