£12m Liverpool player has a surprise chance of forcing his way into Arne Slot’s starting XI

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool supporters are getting excited for the first chance to see their team in action under Arne Slot.

Slot has now been working with the Reds’ players for three weeks or so, but is yet to lead them out in-front of a crowd.

That will change on Saturday morning, with Liverpool taking on Real Betis at the Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Curtis Jones has been talking up Slot’s tactics ahead of the game, while many of the Liverpool squad have been publicly praising the new head coach.

With so many senior stars still away on holiday, there will be a chance for a lot of academy youngsters to impress. And there looks set to be a huge opportunity for one first-team player, too.

Kostas Tsimikas set for surprise opportunity

It will be fascinating to see what kind of line-up Slot goes with against Betis. Of course, it will be a long way from what we can expect from a regular Liverpool XI under his stewardship.

There are still 10 players away after featuring in the summer international tournaments. They could almost make a potential Liverpool starting XI all by themselves.

As well as those still relaxing and enjoying their breaks, Slot also confirmed on Thursday that he has had one fitness issue to contend with in the US; Andy Robertson is injured.

“He is not fully fit yet,” Slot said via liverpoolfc.com. “But we are expecting him in the end of the tour – maybe just after the tour – to be fully fit again.”

READ MORE: Kostas Tsimikas jokes that he’s leaving Liverpool while posing with Spanish club’s shirt

The Dutch coach added that there’s no chance that Robertson will feature across the three planned friendly games in America.

Whilst disappointing news for the 30-year-old, this does now represent a real chance for Kostas Tsimikas to lay down a marker.

There have been rumblings that Tsimikas could leave Liverpool this summer after dropping in importance last season. But with Robertson injured and Joe Gomez away, the Greek has a free run at the team.

Given that Robbo – and Gomez – will not have had much of a pre-season to speak of, it would therefore stand to reason that Tsimikas could set himself up to be in the team at Portman Road on August the 17th.

Kostas Tsimikas can save Liverpool career

Heading into the transfer window, there was almost a resignation that it was time for Liverpool and Tsimikas to part ways. The 28-year-old played just four times from March onwards.

However, a new head coach coming in can grant a reprieve for those with one foot out of the door and perhaps that will now happen again.

There have been times in the past where Tsimikas has looked good enough to be Liverpool’s first choice at left-back. If he can show that form in the US and carry it into the first games of the season, maybe he will be.

Should a good offer come in, Liverpool could still be tempted to sell the man they signed for just £12m. But if he can impress Slot between now and the season starting, that possibility will start to fade.

Robertson should still be considered as the man with the shirt. With the Scotsman ageing and starting to become slightly injury-blighted, though, the door is open for Tsimikas to save his Liverpool career.