Jurgen Klopp has claimed that Kostas Tsimikas should have put Liverpool 1-0 up during last night’s loss against Brentford.
The left-back had a brilliant chance in the first half, finding himself one-on-one with David Raya at the back post. Unfortunately, the goalkeeper read his low effort, getting down to make a smart save. And speaking to Sky Sports via LFCTV after the game, Klopp said he was disappointed with the shot.
“We concede the first goal in a moment when we should already be 2-0 up I think. Super chances from Darwin and from Kostas,” bemoaned the Liverpool boss.
“They were pretty much alone in front of the goal. I think Darwin doesn’t expect Ben Mee sliding there and Kostas could do better with his shooting technique as well.”
Ignoring the fact that Tsimikas’ chance actually came with Brentford already in the lead, Klopp is probably right here.
The truth is that the £11m man never even looked liked scoring. With plenty of other chances coming and going for Liverpool once again last night, you don’t feel confident that any of his teammates would have gobbled up the chance though either.
So much for Klopp and Liverpool to work on
It would probably be wrong to point to Liverpool’s wastefulness in-front of goal as a reason for defeat last night.
Misses like Tsimikas’ in the first half contributed of course. But they weren’t the main cause of the Reds’ dropping another three points.
Instead, it was Liverpool’s fragility at the back and in midfield that was the primary issue. While they looked reasonably threatening coming forward, they failed to deal with Brentford’s physicality from set-pieces in particular.
If Darwin scores the first chance, maybe that changes the make-up of the game. But Liverpool’s defensive shortcomings would likely still have been exposed.
As a result, Klopp has plenty of work to do on the training ground. Missing big chances in attack and being weak and flimsy in defence is a mix that will get Liverpool into further trouble this season. The coaching staff need to make sure that both areas improve before Liverpool take to the pitch again.
As for Tsimikas, he deserves criticism for last night, 100 per cent. We’d focus more on his needless cross-field switch to Trent Alexander-Arnold just outside his own box first though. What were you thinking, Kostas?
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