Kostas Tsimikas makes 'important' Liverpool admission following Toulouse mistake
Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas sent a message to the full-backs doubters with a strong display against Brentford. His showing comes after a difficult night in Toulouse
Kostas Tsimikas says a strong personal performance during Liverpool's 3-0 win over Brentford was important following a difficult run of form.
The Greece international was involved in the opening goal for Toulouse FC in the Europa League as he was caught cheaply in possession which led to the French side taking the lead. He was withdrawn at the break by Jurgen Klopp on Thursday during the poor night in the south of France.
On Sunday, Klopp's side bounced back and dispatched the in-form Bees thanks to Mohamed Salah's brace and a superb curling effort from Diogo Jota. Tsimikas played a role in Salah's second and notched another assist for Jota's fourth Premier League goal of the season.
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Tsimikas' persistence saw him provide the cross for the Egyptian's header to add the all-important second goal, shortly after the hour-mark.
After a difficult run of showings at left-back for Liverpool, the 27-year-old says his display against Brentford was important for his confidence.
"This performance was one of the best. I wanted to help the team to win three points and it was important to me because the last few games were not the best (performance) that I have played with the team but I wanted a little moment and one assist to put the fire on myself. I'm really happy for that," he told LFCTV.
"I can't describe it, it's not the best football that I have played. It was something that has never happened to me, I always try to perform - it was the first time that it (dip in form) has happened to me, I wanted to be focused and think that I'm a good player and (deserve) to be here.
"It was one mistake, against Toulouse, it doesn't affect me and that's what I thought," Tsimikas added on the pressure he put on himself, following the mistake in the Europa League.
Jota's third goal springboarded Liverpool up to second in the Premier League, ahead of Arsenal on goal difference. The Reds now go into the international break in a confident mood with the likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez expected to return.
In a recent common trend, the resumption of the English top-flight sees Liverpool kick off the weekend of action in the early kick-off. They travel up the East Lancs Road to take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola's side were held on Sunday in a dramatic encounter with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Two former Citizens, Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer, came back to haunt the Premier League champions as they were forced to settle for a point in a eight-goal thriller.
Tsimikas believes the performance, as well as the win, going into the international break was important and with their roundedness in defence and attack, there is nothing to be afraid of.
He said: "It was very important for the team (to perform), now we go off to our international teams but when we come back there's big games. It's important to build on these things, go from here and we still have a lot of room for improvement. Everything is in front of us and we have to fight for it.
"We don't have to be afraid of anything, only to be focused and play football," Tsimikas continued. "It was a very big step for us, we wanted to win, we showed from the first until the last moment.
"Everything is in front of us, we have to be 100% focused, to be hungry for everything. They were our goals at the start of the season, everything is there we have to go chase it."