Milos Kerkez provided the decisive moment as Hungary beat Georgia 1-0 in Budapest on Friday night, with Liverpool’s left-back finding the net while Reds team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai captained the hosts and Giorgi Mamardashvili stood in goal for the visitors.

It was a night that brought three Liverpool players together on opposite sides of an international fixture, but it was the Hungary pair who left the Puskás Aréna with the result they wanted.

Kerkez’s 35th-minute goal settled a game Hungary controlled for long periods, giving Marco Rossi’s side their first victory of the UEFA Nations League campaign and moving them onto four points from three matches.

For Georgia, it was another night of frustration in front of goal. Ramaz Svanadze’s side struggled to turn promising attacking moments into sustained pressure, leaving Mamardashvili exposed to a Hungary side that was significantly more assertive with the ball and territory.

The decisive moment arrived midway through the first half, when Kerkez got his name on the scoresheet.

The Liverpool defender had already established himself as one of Hungary’s most important outlets from left-back and continued to push high whenever the hosts could establish possession in Georgia’s half.

His goal was particularly significant for a Hungary side that had entered the match without scoring in either of its opening two Nations League fixtures.

They had lost 1-0 to Ukraine before being held to a goalless draw by Northern Ireland, leaving Rossi’s team with one point and considerable pressure to produce an attacking response.

Kerkez supplied it.

The goal also underlined the importance of his increasingly aggressive role from full-back. Rather than simply providing width behind Hungary’s attack, he was repeatedly involved higher up the pitch, giving Georgia another problem to account for alongside Szoboszlai.

For Liverpool, it was an encouraging contribution from a player who has been expected to provide greater attacking threat from the left since arriving at Anfield.

It was not Kerkez’s first international goal — that came against Serbia in Euro 2024 qualifying in 2023 — but it was arguably one of his more important recent contributions for Hungary given the circumstances surrounding the match.

If Kerkez supplied the decisive finish, Szoboszlai remained central to how Hungary attempted to control the match.

The Liverpool captain started in midfield and again wore the armband for his country, continuing the responsibility that has increasingly become attached to him at international level.

His role was not simply about creating chances. Szoboszlai was involved in Hungary’s attempts to dictate where the game was played, dropping towards midfield when necessary and then moving higher when Rossi’s side established possession in the final third.

That responsibility is reflected in his importance to Hungary over the longer term.

Opta’s international data has Szoboszlai starting every one of Hungary’s six matches in 2026 before this fixture, while he had already contributed a goal and four assists in Nations League and World Cup-qualifying football during that period.

He therefore arrived in Budapest as both Hungary’s captain and its primary creative reference point.

The distinction between Szoboszlai and Kerkez was interesting from a Liverpool perspective. Szoboszlai was tasked with influencing the game from inside, while Kerkez offered the width and forward running that stretched Georgia’s defensive shape.

Together, they helped Hungary maintain the initiative.

On the other side, Mamardashvili faced a difficult evening.

The Liverpool goalkeeper was unable to prevent Kerkez’s opener and spent much of the match dealing with a Hungary side that produced considerably more attacking volume.

Georgia still possessed the individual quality to threaten, particularly through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze, but Hungary’s control meant those attacking weapons were not consistently supplied with the situations they needed.

Mamardashvili therefore found himself representing the defensive side of Liverpool’s involvement in the match: attempting to keep Georgia within touching distance while two of his future club team-mates worked to put Hungary in control.

That made the fixture an unusual but useful snapshot of Liverpool’s squad depth and international reach.

Three players who train together at club level were competing for the same three points, with the outcome ultimately decided by one of them.

The wider context matters for Rossi.

Hungary had endured a difficult start to this Nations League campaign following relegation from League A in the previous edition. Their opening defeat to Ukraine was followed by the 0-0 draw in Belfast, leaving them without a goal after two matches.

Georgia arrived in an almost identical position.

They had lost 1-0 to Northern Ireland before drawing 0-0 with Ukraine, also leaving them on one point and without a goal. The Georgian federation had also changed coach, with Ramaz Svanadze taking charge following Willy Sagnol’s departure.

That made Friday’s meeting particularly important. It was not simply another international fixture for Liverpool’s players; both nations needed a result to prevent the early standings from becoming increasingly difficult to repair.

Hungary got it.

The 1-0 victory takes Rossi’s side to four points, while Georgia remain on one. Ukraine and Northern Ireland had started the round on four points apiece, meaning Hungary’s victory keeps them firmly involved in the group rather than allowing the leading pair to disappear into the distance.

For Liverpool, meanwhile, the most notable development was Kerkez.

His goal decided the match. Szoboszlai supplied the leadership and control. Mamardashvili was beaten despite another competitive appearance for his country.

Three Reds, one night, two sides — and Kerkez was the one who made the difference.