Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas had a mixed day filling in for Andy Robertson in today’s Merseyside Derby.
Tsimikas looks set to play for the foreseeable future. Robertson has been ruled out for some time, with surgery needed on a dislocated shoulder.
The first game of that run came against Everton today. And according to TNT Sports co-commentator Ally McCoist, Tsimikas did some good, and some bad.
“I was singing his praises first-half, he put in a couple of great deliveries, but that was poor,” said the former Scotland striker, after a cross drifted into Jordan Pickford’s arms just after the hour mark.
Tsimikas puts in mixed display
Almost immediately after Tsimikas’ disappointing cross, Jurgen Klopp took the Greek full-back off.
With the 27-year-old now taking on a bigger role for the Reds, perhaps it was a pre-planned substitution from the Liverpool manager. But it didn’t feel that way.
If today was an audition for Tsimikas to grasp hold of Robertson’s shirt while he’s out, then his display posed more questions than answers.
Klopp won’t lose faith with the left-back, no way. He’s got more than enough credit in the bank to survive one slightly underwhelming display.
But there’s no question that Tsimikas has to do better than this.
Robertson looks set to be missing for the next three months or so. If this is the level of performance we can expect from Kostas, then we may be in a spot of trouble.
It perhaps won’t help the former Olympiacos man’s cause that Liverpool looked better – and scored – without him on the pitch, too. Head up, Kostas, but we need more.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
