Life at Liverpool has been superb for many this season under Arne Slot.
The Reds have been one of the best teams in Europe with a number of players vastly improved from last year.
However, it has not all been sunshine and roses for the Liverpool squad.
While there have been several who have been left without an adequate amount of minutes, there are other Liverpool players who have been struggling with injury, too.
One player who perhaps fits into both of those camps is back-up left-back Kostas Tsimikas.
And as Tsimikas prepares to play in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final with Tottenham Hotspur, the 28-year-old has opened up on his difficulty with injury this term.
Kostas Tsimikas admits to ‘tricky period’
In fairness, Tsimikas was playing a decent amount of football before his injury after the November international break.
The Greek had split playing time with Andy Robertson a little more than in the last couple of seasons and Tsimikas was playing well.
In that respect his injury came at a bad time. Kostas has only played 65 minutes of football for Liverpool over the past two months. And speaking to liverpoolfc.com about his time out, the left-back has admitted that it has been a bit of a struggle.
“Of course it was a little bit of a tricky period for me [with] the injury I had,” he said. “But now I’m 100 per cent fully back and ready for every challenge I have ahead.”
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“I worked really hard – a lot of hours of treatment here in the training ground, even in my house. I always try to help myself [with] healing faster. I came back as fast as everybody thought but when you play in these high-level football games for this club, you have to be 100 per cent. I took my time.
“Now I’m fully here and 100 per cent,” Tsimikas adds. “It was a really tricky period but I trained really hard and that’s why I’m here.”
Tsimikas back just in time for Liverpool
Throughout his Liverpool career, Tsimikas has had to play second-choice to Robertson. That remains the case.
However, since his untimely injury in November, it has become clear that Tsimikas has never been closer to taking the left-back spot from Robertson.
The 30-year-old has been struggling to hit previous heights and looks badly in need of a rest.
Thankfully, Tsimikas is now able to give him that. Had the Greece international been missing for a little while longer, Liverpool would have had to come up with an unorthodox solution, or simply keep playing an out-of-form Robertson.
With Tsimikas set to get his chance against Spurs on Wednesday, he could even stay in the side if he takes it.
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