Kostas Tsimikas has returned to Liverpool following a loan spell at Roma and the left-back has been speaking about his time away from Anfield and the changes under new head coach Andoni Iraola during preseason
Ian Doyle Chief Liverpool FC Correspondent
17:34, 22 Jul 2026
Kostas Tsimikas has returned to Liverpool
Kostas Tsimikas has returned to Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Kostas Tsimikas has expressed his delight at returning to Liverpool after what he described as a "strange" loan spell at Roma, while also dropping hints about the changes Andoni Iraola is implementing on the training ground.
The Greek full-back endured a difficult campaign with the Italian club, managing just six Serie A starts and five in the Europa League, all of which came in a wing-back position. The 30-year-old, who enters the final year of his Liverpool contract, has since returned to Merseyside and is expected to battle Milos Kerkez for the left-back berth this season.
Tsimikas has joined the squad on the preseason tour of the United States and is in contention to feature in the opening friendly against Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday.
On his return to the club, Tsimikas said: "I couldn't wait, to be honest. I had a very tough and strange season last year, but I'm fully here. I trained so hard alone in the offseason.
"And during the last season, even if I didn't have so much game time for some reasons, I'm really here, I'm really happy to be back, really glad, and I can't wait to wear the jersey.
"For me, it's like I never left the club. It has a very big sense in my heart always. I'm very happy even now I came back, I just feel like I never left.
Tsimikas is hoping to break into Liverpool's starting XI
Tsimikas is hoping to break into Liverpool's starting XI(Image: Getty Images)
"The mood is in the best levels, even the young kids are very positive and try to give everything. Altogether, we try to achieve our goals."
Tsimikas was among the players who returned for preseason training a week ahead of schedule, and has already witnessed the adjustments new head coach Iraola is introducing as he stamps his philosophy on the squad.
"We did some throw-ins, some build-ups and all these kinds of things; he likes the intensity in the training, everything is with the ball," he said. "He wants us to keep the ball, don't lose the ball, and try to play good football.
"As I say, it's very early, it is new for us, but all the players try to give absolutely everything to try to understand what exactly he wants and to do the right things inside the pitch."
Speaking to Liverpool's website, Tsimikas added: "The preseason is the foundation of the whole year.
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"All the players want and try to give absolutely everything to be ready for the first games of the league.
"I think we improve in some parts, even with the young kids that came – the older players, we try to help them.
"It's a start with the new manager. I really enjoy it, I really try to work very hard and to be healthy. And always, I want to improve."