Kostas Tsimikas has claimed that he’s a much better player than when he joined Liverpool.
Tsimikas is into his fourth season at Anfield, having signed from Olympiacos in 2020. Having signed a new deal yesterday, the Greek’s stay on Merseyside looks set to continue well into the future.
After putting pen to paper on a contract extension, Tsimikas looked back on his time at Liverpool so far with liverpoolfc.com.
Asked whether he felt he’d improved in the three years since arriving, the 27-year-old was in no doubt about his answer.
“I improved very much, as I remember myself [when I arrived],” says Tsimikas.
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“Especially when you train with these kind of players, it gives you full motivation because you become like a part with them, you feel like a big boy also as a player!
“To be here is the most difficult thing, you know, and to play especially – for me, I think it was very important to be surrounded with all these type of players [and] very good people. From the first moment they showed me the love and they helped me to be, from the first moment, one with them and I am really glad for that.”
Tsimikas sees improvement
There’s no question that Tsimikas has come on a huge amount since signing for the Reds in 2020.
It’s true that having been brought in as a back-up to Andy Robertson, Kostas hasn’t been able to kick on and take over from the Scot.
But at various times across the past two years in particular, the left-back has looked very capable of doing so.
There was a point during the 2021/22 season where it genuinely seemed as though the mantle was being prepared to be passed.
In the intervening time, Robertson has since unequivocally clawed that back in his favour. However, that doesn’t mean that the challenge from Tsimikas has gone away.
This new contract suggests that the Greece international is still in it for the long-haul at Liverpool. Being a couple of years younger than Robbo, he may yet get the chance to succeed him as Jurgen Klopp’s first-choice left-back.
For that to happen, you feel as though Tsimikas may need to go up a level or so again. It’s hard to improve too much when you only play every third or fourth week, but if he gets more opportunities, don’t be surprised to see Kostas take them.
