In Liverpool’s first pre-season outing under Arne Slot, new signing Milos Kerkez made his debut in a 3-1 win over Preston North End. The friendly match also marked the Reds’ return to action following the tragic passing of forward Diogo Jota.

Goals from Conor Bradley, Darwin Núñez, and Cody Gakpo secured the victory for the Merseyside giants. Kerkez, who recently joined from Bournemouth, was introduced during a mass half-time substitution by Slot, and contributed to the win in his first appearance for the club.

Following the match, the 21-year-old Hungarian left-back took to Instagram with a heartfelt post, writing: “We stay together, we are Liverpool!” Fellow Hungarian international and now club teammate, Dominik Szoboszlai, responded with a simple red heart emoji, signaling his support.

Slot used the occasion to rotate heavily, giving minutes to promising academy prospects like Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha. For Kerkez, it was a night to remember—both for the emotional context and for a promising start in red.

Kerkez arrives at Anfield after an impressive season at Bournemouth, where he tallied two goals and five assists across 38 Premier League matches—establishing himself as one of the standout full-backs in the division. His attacking prowess and energetic style have already sparked hopes that he could become the long-term successor to Andy Robertson in Liverpool’s backline.

As the club continues to fine-tune its squad ahead of the new season, Kerkez’s arrival signals intent to remain at the top. Meanwhile, academy talent Kareem Ahmed is reportedly close to agreeing to a new contract, further showcasing Liverpool’s commitment to building both now and for the future.

With Szoboszlai and Kerkez both bringing their Hungarian flair to the team, fans can expect exciting things as Liverpool prepares to defend its Premier League crown and chase more trophies under their new head coach.