Kostas Tsimikas is in line for the biggest game of his Liverpool career when the Reds host Arsenal on Saturday. Andy Robertson will likely miss the game with an injury.
Andy Robertson is apparently 50/50 for Liverpool v Arsenal after picking up an injury with Scotland. That’s according to the Athletic, who believe it’s a race against time.
Now, given this is a hamstring issue, we’re not sure Liverpool should risk Robertson regardless. There’s no actual damage, thankfully, but the Reds needn’t take a risk here.
Liverpool have the busiest period of the season coming up and ensuring Robertson’s fitness for that is more important. He can afford to have a weekend off.
Especially with Kostas Tsimikas in reserve. The Greek is having a very good season as Robertson’s deputy and that could continue against Arsenal.
It would be Tsimikas’s biggest test yet, however.
Kostas Tsimikas vs Arsenal
Quite remarkably, Tsimikas hasn’t conceded a goal with Liverpool this season. That’s despite eight appearances already.
It’s a fantastic turnaround for someone who featured in just six Premier League minutes across his debut campaign. Liverpool just didn’t have trust in Tsimikas as their defence collapsed with injuries.
This season, though, he’s earning that trust. A start against Arsenal would be his biggest test yet, however.
As we detailed here, Tsimikas’s record is fantastic but Liverpool still leave him out of major games. While Jurgen Klopp puts him in against Norwich and Burnley – and a depleted Atletico Madrid – we haven’t seen the 25-year-old against a top side in a must-win game.
And Arsenal are that right now. They’re in fantastic form, climbing up the table after their miserable start and could force their way into the top four.
Starting Tsimikas against them would be a sign of newfound trust and we would get to see what he can do against an in-form side. If he can deliver as he has all season, we’d safely say that Robertson has real competition.
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