BBC pundit lauds Kostas Tsimikas after Liverpool clash at Aston Villa

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Jonathan Woodgate has told BBC Sport that Kostas Tsimikas has been an excellent rival for Andy Robertson at left-back for Liverpool, as he lauded the ‘huge’ challenge the defender made to deny Ollie Watkins at Aston Villa on Tuesday.

Robertson was absent from the match day squad for the Reds’ must-win game against the Villans. That meant that the 25-year-old got the opportunity to make his eighth Premier League start of the campaign.

Tsimikas has established himself as a superb signing for Jurgen Klopp’s men. It is almost remarkable to think that Liverpool paid less than £12 million to bring him to Anfield. For many top-flight clubs, he would potentially be one of the first names on the team sheet.

And he demonstrated his quality with one vital moment against Villa on Tuesday. Tsimikas reacted fastest after Watkins was able to break into the box. And he managed to produce a brilliant challenge before the Villa striker could get a shot away.

And that prompted Woodgate to laud the Greece international. He also praised the club for bringing Tsimikas to Anfield in the first place.

“Tsimikas has been an excellent deputy for Robertson. He is another astute signing by the Liverpool recruitment team. That was a huge challenge,” he told BBC Sport.

Tsimikas once again proves that he is an outstanding backup for Liverpool

What is so impressive about the current Liverpool squad is that they have so much depth all over the field. Of course, it is the forward line that takes many of the headlines. But they are almost as strong in many other areas.

And left-back is certainly one. Tsimikas has stepped up whenever he has been called upon for the Reds. And if he did not have arguably the world’s best ahead of him in the pecking order, he would have easily played a lot more for Liverpool.