'Brilliant' Liverpool player set for another chance against Southampton after new injury issue emerges - opinion

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International breaks always seem to bring bad news for Liverpool supporters.

The amount of injuries Reds’ players have picked up while being away with their countries over the years does not bear thinking about.

One of those to have suffered most from this apparant curse recently is left-back Andy Robertson.

Up until last season, Robertson had enjoyed a delightfully injury-free career at Liverpool, playing relentlessly for more than six years.

However, that all changed in 2023/24, when a dislocated shoulder led to Robertson sitting out for much of Jurgen Klopp’s last term as Liverpool manager.

Now locked in a battle with Kostas Tsimikas to be Arne Slot’s starting left-back, the 30-year-old looks like he might have just suffered yet another blow to his chances.

Andy Robertson suffers Scotland knock

Slot’s use of his left-backs at Anfield has been the topic of much debate ever since the start of the season.

Tsimikas has come in and done well, and after Robertson struggled against Arsenal and Bukayo Saka in October, the Greek appeared to take over first-choice left-back duties.

Robertson is a battler, though, and after knuckling down, the Scotland captain played the full 90 minutes of Liverpool’s last game before the break, keeping Leon Bailey quiet as the Reds beat Aston Villa.

That had perhaps led to another switch in thinking from Slot, with Robertson showing that he is not done just yet.

READ MORE: Liverpool creating new Kostas Tsimikas plan to bring £35m left-back to Anfield

The feeling that the natural order had been resumed was perhaps heighted when Tsimikas put in a poor performance for Greece against England on Thursday.

Nevertheless, worrying reports of Scotland’s win over Poland on Monday suggest that Robertson picked up a knock during the 2-1 victory.

The Liverpool defender played through whatever problem he may have had and in fact scored a last-gasp winner for the Scots. But if there is an issue there, then playing through it will not have helped at all.

Kostas Tsimikas set for Liverpool start

Although Tsimikas did not impress against England, the 28-year-old has done well this season.

Tsimikas earned praise from Michael Owen, the former Liverpool striker, who called his performance against Crystal Palace ‘brilliant’ in October.

Though he has very much always been a back-up during his time with the Reds, the Greece international is arguably in his best run of form at the club.

As a result, if there is any doubt at all over Robertson’s fitness, then Slot should have no qualms about putting Tsimikas in.

Having just seemingly won his spot back, it would be a blow to Robertson to drop out again, but Tsimikas looks like he’ll have the chance to reinforce his claim in Slot’s mind.