Milos Kerkez has delivered a frank assessment of Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at Brighton, admitting the squad were running on empty just 62 hours after their Champions League heroics against Galatasaray.
The Hungary left back scored a stunning equaliser on the south coast, cancelling out Danny Welbeck’s opener, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a 10th Premier League defeat of the season, another damaging blow to Arne Slot’s hopes of securing Champions League football.
Liverpool made the 430 mile round trip to the Amex Stadium having barely trained on Friday. Their midweek 4-0 demolition of Galatasaray had secured a quarter final spot, but the physical toll was evident from the first whistle.
And Kerkez, one of the few to emerge with credit, didn’t hide from the reality of the situation.
“I think they definitely played well and had more chances,” he said. “I think we didn’t create as much as we wanted. It was a tough day, I think you could see some of us were maybe a little bit tired.
“But I don’t like using it as an excuse. We know where we are in the standings in the Premier League, and we know we have to push.
“Of course, it’s maybe a bit of an advantage (to Brighton), but still, very disappointed that we couldn’t win.”
The numbers don’t lie. Slot’s side were without Alexander Isak, Mohamed Salah, Conor Bradley and Wataru Endo, with No.1 Alisson Becker also sidelined. Hugo Ekitike lasted just eight minutes before being forced off, robbing Liverpool of the focal point they’d built their midweek win around.
Kerkez admitted that early blow knocked them out of their rhythm.
“It’s tough. Hugo went off early and he really helps us a lot with deep runs and one on one actions,” he said. “When Rio Ngumoha came on, he tried and was really good in one on ones, but on a day like this, we couldn’t really create a lot.”
For Slot, the frustration was compounded by what’s coming next. While the international break offers a breather for the coaching staff, the head coach pointed out that his players won’t be getting much rest.
“Yeah, it’s a break for me, maybe it’s a break for you, but it’s not a break for the players,” Slot said, with a weariness that suggested he’s said this before.
He referenced Thomas Tuchel’s decision to allow 15 England players to report to camp late, a nod to the gruelling schedules the top players are being put through.
“Unfortunately for us, it’s the only country where we don’t have internationals, so all the other ones will probably use our players again twice,” Slot added.
“I think, but it’s also something I’m going to ask our data department, that a lot of our players are in the top 10 in terms of playing minutes, because I have so many times had to play the same players because of the model we are having, because of the injuries we are having.
“We don’t have a big squad, we always have to come back to the same players. But these same players today showed character because I thought I saw that all the ones that played Wednesday were still able to compete in the end.
“Maybe not as fresh as they were Wednesday but they didn’t give up and that’s an important asset to have for the last period of the season.”
The result leaves Liverpool fifth in the table, their grip on a Champions League spot loosening with each passing week. Next up after the break is an FA Cup quarter final at Manchester City, a tie that now feels like a potential turning point, or another sign of a season slipping away.
Kerkez, for his part, offered no excuses. But the fatigue was there, written in the performance. And with a thin squad and a punishing schedule, it’s not going away any time soon.
