Jurgen Klopp shares who was really playing left-back against Everton after he subbed Tsimikas off

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Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he took a risk when subbing left-back Kostas Tsimikas off for Liverpool today.

Tsimikas is set for a bigger role over the coming months, with first-choice full-back Andy Robertson out injured. As a result, the Greek started Saturday’s 2-0 win over Everton.

It was a mixed performance from Kostas though, Klopp recognising as much by taking him off for Darwin Nunez just after the hour.

But speaking to TNT Sports after the game, the Reds boss suggested that Tsimikas’ withdrawal was simply about getting another attacker on the pitch.

“I’m not sure we took a risk but we wanted to put on another offensive player, that made a lot of sense,” Klopp explained. “How can you do that without taking one off? You have to change it a little bit.

“So, we put Lucho [Diaz] in the left-back position. They didn’t have a winger there really so we thought that’s possible, let him attack there.

“He was actually the player who crossed the ball for the penalty, so that obviously was not the worst idea we ever had. That’s the risk you have to take.”

Liverpool find new left-back solution

Obviously, this is not a viable option for Liverpool during Robertson’s enforced absence.

No one is expecting that Klopp will reshuffle his pack and play Diaz at left-back from the start of any match.

But with Everton a man down and sitting so deep, you can see the logic of it.

The Colombian is a hard worker on and off the ball, you can rely on him to get through his defensive duties if needed.

But keeping Diaz on the pitch and taking Tsimikas off also meant that Liverpool had four attacking options rather than three.

And as Klopp points out, Lucho made the difference, his dinked cross handled by Michael Keane to hand the Reds a penalty and ultimately the opening goal.

Nevertheless, we’d expect to see a more natural left-back returning for Thursday’s game with Toulouse. It’s unlikely to be Tsimikas, but it definitely, definitely won’t be Diaz!