Liverpool haven’t drawn widespread praise for their performances under Andoni Iraola this season, but make no mistake, the Spaniard is shaping the Reds into a serious team once again.
Against Brentford and Villarreal in recent days, Liverpool have climbed back from a deficit to claim the points, keeping pace with the frontal pack in the Premier League and maintaining their perfect start in the Champions League.
Against Villarreal on Tuesday, the Reds produced a scintillating attacking display, but their defensive deficiencies were laid bare, with Kostas Tsimikas right at the epicentre across a bruising first half.
Kostas Tsimikas’ performance vs Villarreal
“Tsimikas will be very lucky to emerge for the second half,” said The Athletic’s James Pearce after the Greek left-back was run ragged against Spanish opponents.
Ironically, his passing helped Liverpool on their way after the break, but his evident skill as a playmaker does not outweigh glaring defensive flaws which seem to damage the Reds on the regular.
Tsimikas has only ever been a bit-part player for Liverpool, but after his loan spell away from the club last season, he surely should have been sold this summer, with Liverpool finding a new left-back to contest with Milos Kerkez, who has been poor since joining the club from Bournemouth for £40m in 2025.
FSG may well consider it a stop-gap solution. After all, the 30-year-old knows Anfield like the back of his hand by this point, and sweeping summer changes may have precluded a big-money move for a wide defender who could challenge Kerkez for a starting berth in Iraola’s team.
|
Kostas Tsimikas in the Premier League |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Apps (starts) |
Assists |
|
26/27 |
2 (1) |
0 |
|
24/25 |
18 (9) |
1 |
|
23/24 |
13 (8) |
3 |
|
22/23 |
20 (9) |
4 |
|
21/22 |
13 (9) |
2 |
|
20/21 |
2 (0) |
0 |
However, Tsimikas has to go in 2027, and he’s not the only one. Liverpool need to shave off the fluff which is preventing Iraola from creating the kind of squad capable of returning to the ascendancy.
Liverpool must sell big-salary flop
Liverpool spent a shedload this summer, but there’s still a real sense that this is an imbalanced squad not yet ready to challenge the likes of Arsenal for the Premier League title. That said, Iraola is still managing an immensely talented group of players.
More will be needed next year. For example, Liverpool did not replace Mohamed Salah this summer with an out-and-out right winger; but even so, Federico Chiesa looks set to join Tsimikas in the dustbin in 2027.
It’s a real shame that the Italian attacker has failed to make his mark at Anfield. In 2024, he was Arne Slot’s only summer signing after replacing Jurgen Klopp at the helm. The £12m arrival from Juventus flattered to deceive that year, but the Reds still went on to lift the Premier League title.
Chiesa has not started a game since the backend of last season. In fact, now into his third campaign on Merseyside, he has only started twice in the Premier League, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that Chiesa must be sold, freeing up room and resources for the addition of an elite right winger to complete Iraola’s frontline.
Chiesa’s winner against Bournemouth at the start of last season was something special. Pure unadulterated passion from the 28-year-old.
He hasn’t actually played more than two minutes of football under Iraola’s wing, so who knows, maybe Chiesa will enjoy something of a rebirth over the coming months, but on the basis of the evidence, it’s unlikely.
Ultimately, Chiesa’s injury problems and struggles to integrate on the field have limited him to a fringe role at Anfield. He wasn’t the most expensive signing in the world, but is believed to earn around £120k per week, placing him among the higher earners at the club.
Chiesa will leave Liverpool a Premier League champion and something of a cult legend, popping up with some big moments and endearing himself to the fanbase.
But make no mistake, he will leave as a flop, having never come close to the kind of form which established him as one of Europe’s most talented forwards way back when for his nation.
