Liverpool's Milos Kerkez explains why he chose to keep distance from Andy Robertson

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Milos Kerkez admits he didn't shower Andy Robertson with love when he confirmed his Liverpool exit as he knew it would be an emotional time for the Scot.

Robertson played 378 games for the Reds across his nine years and was a regular for the vast majority of those. He was a crucial player, especially under Jurgen Klopp , but Kerkez was essentially signed as his replacement with Robertson approaching the twilight years of his career.

Immediately the ex- Bournemouth man came in as first choice and ended up playing 27 times, restricting Robertson to just 11 outings in the Premier League. He was linked with a January exit but remained until the end of the season before joining Tottenham.

Robertson's exit was announced ahead of time and Kerkez concedes he kept an element of distance - but admits during the season they bounced ideas off of each other despite ultimately battling for the same position under Arne Slot.

The Hungarian defender told the Times on Robertson: “I didn’t want to get a lot on to him because he was a bit emotional as everything was coming to an end. I didn’t want to get on to him too much.

“But throughout the year he helped me. We had a few conversations about the crosses and about we need big lungs so we can run until tomorrow. We had conversations like that. Also, where to put the last ball, to focus, to put your head up and sometimes put better crosses in.

“Andy helped me a lot, really and, like I said many times, he’s a legend. He’s someone I look up to. It’s not like I was held back or whatever because Andy was there. I always like to compete, it doesn’t matter who it is, and I’m going to push even more this year.”

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Transitioning Robertson out of the side divided opinion, but he will now take his experience to north London as one of several impressive Tottenham signings this summer. Last term though he did open up on having to accept Liverpool's want to bring in younger players.

"The club has to move forward, the lads who have been here so long are not getting any younger. You have to accept it. I have had competition my whole career," he said midway through the campaign.