Kostas Tsimikas makes surprising Liverpool title claim ahead of Arsenal clash
Liverpool travel to face Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday in game which is being billed as crucial to both teams' Premier League title hopes - but Kostas Tsimikas doesn't share that view
by Chris McKenna · The MirrorKostas Tsimikas insists it is too early for making Premier League title race statements ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Arsenal.
The Reds have enjoyed a record-breaking start to their season with 11 wins in 12 games in all competitions. They head into the weekend top of the Premier League table after eight games and looking like serious title contenders with just one defeat so far.
But the Reds left-back doesn’t believe a victory at Arsenal will send out the message that they can win the league this season. He said: “I think we are too early to say that. We will go to Arsenal to play our football, to win the game, that’s our target and we just watch every game.
“Game by game we have to win to take the three points and to play good football. That’s important for the team right now. It’s too early to speak about [title challenges]. We set our goals from the start of the season, we want to go for everything.”
Liverpool may be under a new manager in Arne Slot this season but they are being motivated by last term. The Reds were in the hunt for a quadruple at one point in Jurgen Klopp’s final campaign. They managed to win the Carabao Cup in February but then they fell away in the Premier League title race and suffered a shock defeat by Atalanta in the Europa League.
Tsimikas pinpointed the FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United as the moment their season crumbled. The Reds would later draw with United in the league before defeats by Crystal Palace and Everton ended their title hopes. The Greek defender said: “Last season at the end we destroy everything.
“After one bad result against Man United again, I think the team in the next fixtures we were not the team we were before. I think as I say we want to take it game by game. Every game is a final. We wanted to play our game, to do what the manager wants and win games.”
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Tsimikas starred in the 1-0 win over RB Leipzig on Wednesday night which put the Reds in total control of their Champions League destiny with three victories in three games. But he is likely to sit out Sunday’s visit to Arsenal with Andy Robertson expected to slot back in.
There are more chances this season for Tsimikas with Slot happy to rotate the two left-backs. Tsimikas added: “We have a very, very good relationship. We are almost every day together, we laugh together but we play the same position.
“Both of us want to play, it’s very healthy competition as it had to be from the start. I think when he plays he gives everything and when he plays I want all the best for him and when I play, he wants all the best for me. That’s a healthy competition. We are very, very close. Both of us want to play and both of us when we have the chance give absolutely everything.”
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