By his personal admission, Kostas Tsimikas has not been his greatest since taking on from the injured Andy Robertson, however he believes two assists “put the fireplace on.”
Tsimikas has been thrust into an unlikely place because the October worldwide break, with a shoulder damage for Robertson bumping him as much as first-choice left-back.
The Greek has not precisely excelled in his 5 begins because the promotion, with an error resulting in a objective in Thursday’s 3-2 defeat to Toulouse attracting widespread criticism.
However Tsimikas was retained three days later and got here away from the 3-0 victory over Brentford with two assists, the primary a effective cross for Mo Salah‘s header.
Kostas Tsimikas and @MoSalah linking as much as double our lead in #LIVBRE ??#TeamPixel | #AD pic.twitter.com/8wHkzPT9Xk
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 12, 2023
Chatting with LFCTV after the sport, the 27-year-old admitted that his latest wrestle had affected him mentally, because it was “one thing that by no means occurred” earlier than.
“I can’t describe it. It’s not the most effective soccer I’ve performed, in all these years within the groups I’ve had,” he mentioned.
“It was one thing that by no means occurred to me, I at all times attempt to carry out, and on this row of video games.
“So it was one thing that occurred for me [for the] first time.
“I needed to simply be targeted, simply to suppose that I’m a adequate participant to be right here, and that it was one mistake at Toulouse and it doesn’t have an effect on me. That’s what I confirmed.”
Luckily, these two assists seem to have proved a serious enhance, because the No. 21 continued, which might bode properly for the rest of his time within the aspect.
“This efficiency was top-of-the-line,” Tsimikas smiled.
“I needed a lot to play good, to assist the workforce, to win the three factors.
“For me, it was crucial, as a result of the earlier video games weren’t the most effective video games I’ve performed with the workforce.
“I needed just a bit second, one help, to place the fireplace on in myself. I’m actually glad for that.”
Throughout his personal post-match interviews, Jurgen Klopp echoed the identical sentiment, with it clear wayward performances have been weighing on Tsimikas.
“Kostas Tsimikas, for instance, all of us might see the distinction between Kosti earlier than the assists and after the assists,” he mentioned in his press convention.
“That’s soccer, that’s life. It’s useful if you happen to get optimistic suggestions, and an help is clearly optimistic suggestions.
“So, crucial. Quite a lot of gamers, truly all gamers, performed on a prime degree at this time. I’m actually proud of that.”
Chatting with BBC Sport, Klopp added: “You can see it.
“Kostas’ set-up for the objective, when he will get the help, you may see how the chest opened up – ‘ah, OK, it’s soccer once more’.
“These sorts of issues you’ve get by way of, and for this you want alternatives. He received them, he used them now and it’s good.”
