Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas has revealed that the disappointment of last season is fueling the team’s impressive start to the current campaign. Speaking after the Reds’ 1-0 Champions League victory over RB Leipzig on Wednesday, Tsimikas said last year’s failures are motivating the squad.
Liverpool were on course for multiple trophies under Jurgen Klopp last season but saw their hopes crumble after a poor run of form. Now, under new manager Arne Slot, they have won 11 of 12 matches across all competitions, marking the best start for any Liverpool manager.
Reflecting on last season’s collapse, Tsimikas, who was named man of the match, admitted the experience has inspired the team to do better. “Of course (it is driving us). I think the last season, at the end, we destroyed everything,” he said. “After one bad result, I think, against Man Utd, I think the team in the next fixtures were not the team we were before.”
This season, Liverpool sit at the top of the Premier League and are one of two teams, alongside Aston Villa, to have won all three of their Champions League group matches. They are now gearing up to face title rivals Arsenal on Sunday, where a win could see them move seven points clear of the Gunners.
While Tsimikas said it’s too early to talk about trophies, he emphasised the team’s ambition. “we set our goals at the start of the season and we want to go for everything,” he said.
Darwin Nunez scored the decisive goal against Leipzig, his first in the competition since February. Manager Arne Slot praised the forward’s contribution, saying, “It was a team goal. It’s pleasing to see that Darwin did a very good job today.”