Liverpool suffer blow as defender picks up ankle injury in training: Reports
Liverpool have reportedly suffered a blow as left-back Kostas Tsimikas is said to have picked up an ankle injury during training. The Reds are set to face Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, November 27.
As per journalist Paul Joyce, Tsimikas picked up the injury in training and is now set for a short time on the sidelines. The defender was previously out for 45 days last season with a broken collarbone.
Tsimikas is expected to miss two crucial games, against Real Madrid and Manchester United. His availability for the Newcastle United and Everton matches next month ahead of the busy festive period is yet to be determined.
The report comes just hours after Liverpool journalist David Lynch told Anfield Index:
“There’s nothing concrete on Tsimikas but I did speak to someone close to him yesterday and they suggested that they don’t know yet, which doesn’t sound great. I’d love to see him back because I didn’t think Andy Robertson looked himself against Southampton, so we need that rotation to keep them both fresh.”
With Tsimikas injured, Arne Slot will have to use Andy Robertson as his main left-back with Joe Gomez as his backup option.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot on left-back competition between Tsimikas and Robertson
Arne Slot was quizzed about the competition for the left-back spot between Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas earlier this month. The Liverpool manager admitted that it had become a dilemma for him.
He claimed that the two were pushing hard for the starting spot and it was his duty to ensure both get enough minutes.
He told the media (via BBC):
"I wouldn’t say it is a dilemma. There are other positions where we have rotated. It probably also has to do with Robbo's [Robertson's] pre-season. He had no pre-season because he came back injured from the Euros so he missed almost the whole pre-season. For most of them it was only two weeks but for him it was only a few days.
"Kostas did really well in that period of time so it has to do with the quality Kostas has in that position but it also has to do with Robbo missing pre-season. That's why we started rotating from the start a bit. If a player has missed pre-season he can't play three games in a row. That's the situation. It was good for Robbo to play against Arsenal and against Brighton in midweek. That is making sure he is getting into that rhythm of playing twice a week."
Liverpool are currently top of the Premier League table, leading second-placed Manchester City by eight points. The two sides face off on Sunday, December 1, in what could be a crucial match in the title race.
