There’s a sense that Liverpool’s pecking order has modified at left-back, however Arne Slot has left doubt over which of Andy Robertson or Kostas Tsimikas will begin.
With Robertson struggling for kind and health in latest weeks, Tsimikas seems to have overtaken him as Slot’s first-choice left-back.
That got here with the Scot beginning in opposition to Brighton within the Carabao Cup final week earlier than conceding his place within the aspect within the Premier League and Champions League after that.
Tsimikas impressed in opposition to each Brighton within the league and Bayer Leverkusen in Europe, main followers to consider that he’ll maintain his place in opposition to Aston Villa on Saturday evening.
Requested in regards to the scenario round his left-backs, Slot defined his strategy to rotation and why full-back is among the positions he typically modifications – with no direct reply on whether or not he has a primary selection.
“I feel my lineups inform you what I take into consideration this. I feel now we have two superb left-backs and we play many, many, many video games,” he mentioned.
“Then I feel each of them want their video games, as a result of it’s additionally a place the place a number of effort is being requested.
“Should you have a look at the gamers who’ve performed most video games, it’s principally our centre-backs and so they don’t actually run probably the most if you happen to evaluate that to full-backs or the midfielders or the wingers.
“So there are a number of the reason why our full-backs or our midfielders are generally rotated, however undoubtedly it additionally has to do with the standard of the gamers and the distinction in, at the least for my part, the standard of those gamers.
“For me, I’ve two superb left full-backs. Andy has began loads, Kostas has began a number of occasions, let’s see who begins Saturday.”
Whereas Robertson has featured extra typically, it’s fascinating to notice that Tsimikas will not be too far behind when it comes to minutes performed, with the previous clocking 865 and the latter 574.
Whether or not the Greek continues to shut on his fellow left-back stays to be seen – with Unai Emery now left guessing who will begin in opposition to Villa.
