Kostas Tsimikas deals Liverpool damaging injury blow after Arne Slot's surprise move

Kostas Tsimikas is set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury in training.

The Greek international had started the season as Andy Robertson's back-up but has surprisingly been handed a larger role by new boss Arne Slot. He has featured in 11 games in all competitions.

Tsimikas has regularly taken Robertson's role, with the Scotland captain having struggled since returning from Euro 2024 with an injury. Slot's rotation policy has been a success, with Liverpool having conceded just eight Premier League goals.

They now lead the top flight by eight points and are also going well in the Champions League, ahead of Wednesday's clash with Real Madrid. But Slot is facing a selection headache ahead of that game.

Tsimikas has now joined fellow full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold in the treatment room. It is understood he picked up an ankle injury during a training session and will miss the clash with Madrid.

Tsimikas was not in the squad for Liverpool’s 3-2 victory over Southampton on Sunday. He has now joined Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, Federico Chiesa, and Diogo Jota on the Red's injury list.

Boss Slot has admitted that he does not expect either Alisson or Jota to be available for Wednesday’s game at Anfield, but Alexander-Arnold has a chance of being fit. After hosting Madrid, Liverpool will face title rivals Manchester City on Sunday.

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Image: Oliver Hardt - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) Oliver Hardt - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Slot has been pleased with Tsimikas' performances so far this season and insisted that he has proven his doubters wrong. The Greek's place in the squad had been questioned before the campaign.

But the Dutchman has insisted Tsimikas has become a key player, especially given Robertson's struggles. Slot said: "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."

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