David Hughes has been speaking about Konstantinos Tsimikas’ performances this season, especially against Norwich City, on the Blood Red podcast.
A lot of the teams pushing for the Premier League title this season had improved their squads over the summer with big-money signings, but Liverpool made just the one in Ibrahima Konate – although someone they signed last year has impressed and featured more frequently this campaign in Tsimikas.
Who is a better full back?
Tsimikas!
Robertson!
The Greek full-back has started three games in the Premier League as well as once in the Carabao Cup, which is already more appearances than he racked up in the whole of last season, with Jurgen Klopp seemingly happy to use him instead of Andy Robertson when the defender needs a rest – something he didn’t get much of last campaign as the Scot started all their league games.
Hughes heaped a lot of praise on the former Olympiacos man for his performances, after claiming he prefers Tsimikas’ crossing technique to Robertson’s.
He said: “It [Tsimikas’ crossing] offers a lot more as a ball going into the box. He looks really dangerous and he no longer feels like someone who maybe you need to bring him in just to give Robertson a rest.
“It feels like you bring him in knowing that he’s got his own individual credentials that he’s going to bring to the side and make the side a little bit better – maybe not better, because Robertson is what he is, you know, one of the best left-backs in the Premier League.
“For me, it just felt like Liverpool were trying to find him a lot in the attacking third and that’s a testament to the kind of trust the players have.
“And obviously, maybe pre-arranged tactics before the game where they thought getting it out to him is a dangerous form of attack, and I did think that he looked really dangerous putting balls in the box.”
TIF Thoughts on Tsimikas…
Despite starting just three games in the Premier League so far, Tsimikas sits second in the number of crosses attempted, only behind Trent Alexander-Arnold (FBRef), which certainly suggests the full-back sees crossing as one of his main threats in an attacking sense.
It would not be healthy or natural for Robertson to play as many games as he did in all competitions last year, turning out 50 times, so there is a huge need for Tsimikas to be a ready-made and suitable backup option, and given the number of minutes he’s been handed this season, Jurgen Klopp clearly thinks he’s now good enough.