02 December 2023 , 22:30
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Kostas Tsimikas insists he is ready for the challenge of trying to keep Andy Robertson on the Anfield sidelines.
Tsimikas, 27, is revelling in the opportunity handed to him by the shoulder injury Robertson suffered playing for Scotland in October which has given him an extended run in Liverpool ’s team. The Greek international left-back has been waiting for his big chance - and has revealed how the intensity of Jurgen Klopp ’s training sessions made it easier for him to step in to make seven starts in the Reds’ last nine matches.
Tsimikas insists the scheduled return of the rampaging Robertson next month will only be a positive. He said: “I always enjoy playing - even the bad games! I try to enjoy every moment because every game is a big opportunity. Of course, I am really enjoying playing more often now. For me, it is something very big to play for this club and I will give my best.
“But I want Robbo - and Robbo wants me. It is not possible for one player to play all the games. Right now I am really enjoying playing and want to keep focussed and hungry for the next games. I always feel I can play. I’m not thinking when Robbo is coming back or who is going to play.
“I hope all the best for him to come back as strong as before. We will see, no-one knows. I just always try to be focused to try to do my job as best as I can. It’s important that everybody is fully ready, always. I think every player in the squad wants to play every time but, as I said before, you cannot play all the games.
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Kostas Tsimikas has come into the Liverpool team in place of Andy Robertson (Paul Currie/REX/Shutterstock)“That’s why you have very good players on the bench, very hungry for the schedule to play and to play more games, to give absolutely everything to help the team to achieve our goals. So I think it’s very, very important. I think everybody wants the same thing - the team has to win.”
Tsimikas has been at Anfield for three years since moving to Merseyside three years ago in an £11.75million deal from Olympiakos. He admits it was a struggle to live up to Klopp’s expectations in the same way that Robertson has. Tsimikas added: “It was hard when I came here to play the football Robbo played.
Andy Robertson suffered a shoulder injury while playing for Scotland in October (Getty Images)“You need time to adapt. But the club believed in me, even when I didn’t play too much. Everybody needs time to find your best shape, but you must always enjoy it as much as you can at this club.
“The training sessions are very hard in order to keep yourself fit and, when it is your time, to be 100 per cent ready for what you do. Many times we’ve seen everybody who plays, me, Joe Gomez, always we are there. We have very good players and that is why we are in this big club. We fight every day, even when you don’t play, training is very hard, to keep yourself fit and when it’s your time, to be 100 per cent ready.”
Liverpool face Fulham at Anfield on Sunday with Tsimikas set to continue at left-back and back-up keeper Caoimhin Kelleher deputising for injured No 1 Alisson. Klopp reckons Irish international Kelleher doesn’t smile enough, but Tsimikas said: “I always chat with Caoimhin at the training ground and we always try to make fun. He always smiles.
“For me personally, I feel very safe when he’s the goalie. I am really happy for him. To be at Liverpool it means he is a very good goalkeeper. That is why he is here.”