There's no pressure playing football. Real pressure is when a family can't put a meal on the table

MILOS KERKEZ has no doubts that he can handle the expectation that comes with playing for Liverpool - after recognising what real pressure looks like when he was a kid.

- BY SIMON MULLOCK

The champions paid Bournemouth £40million for the Serbian-born Hungarian international left-back and Kerkez admitted he realised that he was taking a huge step up in class from the pace of the passing he encountered in his very first training session with his new club.

But the 21-year-old insists he is ready for the challenge - thanks to a childhood spent on the tough streets of his hometown Vrbas and a career path that has brought him to Anfield via spells in Hungary, Italy and Holland after coming through the ranks in Serbian and Austrian youth football.

"For me, I don't feel pressure anywhere," said Kerkez, who is hoping to be in boss Arne Slot’s team for the Community Shield clash with Crystal Palace at Wembley.

“It’s just go out and do your job. That's it. There's no pressure in that. For me, I grew up different. So I accept everything. It’s not a problem for me.