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Liverpool’s defensive ranks are facing more uncertainty.
The club has dealt with significant squad changes in recent months. Some players left permanently, while others were sent out on loan for regular minutes.
Balancing squad depth and giving players game time is always tricky. Fans want strength at Anfield, but they understand that some players need opportunities elsewhere.
Competition at left-back seemed to have intensified at the start of the season, but recent events show that Arne Slot now clearly favours Milos Kerkez to start in the position.
The Hungarian has impressed whenever he’s been given the chance.
One player who had hoped to challenge for a regular role found himself sidelined and sent on a season-long loan to Italy.
The arrangement was designed to give him first-team football while keeping the door open for a return.
The loan club expected him to bolster their left wing-back position. Yet, after eight appearances across Serie A and the Europa League, totaling just 368 minutes, he struggled to cement a place.
And according to reports, he did not fully convince the manager, leaving a permanent move unlikely.
The Times are reporting that, “Kostas Tsimikas is due to return from his loan spell at AS Roma and may become back-up to Milos Kerkez if Andy Robertson departs when his contract expires in five months.”
“But that is not a long-term solution. Like Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk, Tsimikas’ contract runs until 2027, leaving his future uncertain.”
Tsimikas joined AS Roma at the end of August 2025.
Talking about his performance in Italy, an Italian outlet wrote, “Kostas Tsimikas has not fully convinced Gian Piero Gasperini during his two and a half months at Roma.”
“He is on a dry loan until June 30, 2026, but a transfer seems difficult unless there is a clear turnaround in the coming weeks. It is likely he will stay until the end of the season.”
Since joining Liverpool in 2020, Tsimikas has made 115 appearances, including scoring the winning penalty in the 2022 FA Cup final.
His likely return will add depth behind Robertson and Kerkez, but with limited long-term solutions, Liverpool may need further adjustments to their defensive lineup as the season progresses.
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