'Not the best' - Kostas Tsimikas makes honest Liverpool admission as four players return
Kostas Tsimikas has lifted the lid on his struggles for form this season - as he explained an early return to Liverpool from the international break.
The long-term absence of Andy Robertson with a shoulder injury suffered last month opened the door for Tsimikas at left-back having been restricted to just eight starts in the previous 12 months.
However, the 27-year-old posted a series of under-par performances culminating in a poor mistake that sent Toulouse on their way to a shock 3-2 Europa League success a fortnight ago in which he was substituted at half-time.
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Tsimikas, though, responded with a strong performance in the 3-0 Premier League win over Brentford three days later in which he set up goals for Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota - his first assists since March.
The defender is now poised to continue at left-back when Liverpool resume their top-flight campaign at leaders Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime.
And Tsimikas said: "Before Brentford, I was not in the best condition of myself. I try to find my best moments, I try to fight back, to be the player I was before, to make assists, to run, to defend, to do everything on the pitch.
"I'm really happy I came back against Brentford. I have to keep going with the same passion. Okay, this can happen, we play football, it's a very difficult sport. It's up to me now to continue to play good and to make assists for the team."
Tsimikas was back at the AXA Training Centre earlier this week having been released from the Greece squad ahead of their final Euro 2024 qualifier against France on Tuesday
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