Liverpool turn back to Kostas Tsimikas as Andy Robertson’s exit reshapes the left back plan

April 14, 2026 Aksel Kryhlmand

According to Joanna Durkan’s report for This Is Anfield, Liverpool have told Kostas Tsimikas he remains part of their plans for next season. Durkan writes that Robertson’s expected exit at the end of his contract has changed the picture, with the club now needing reliable depth behind Kerkez.

The same report says Liverpool’s stance is based on information first reported by Ilias Kallonas of Sport24, who said Tsimikas has been informed he is viewed as the second choice left back for the 2026/27 season. That would mean a return to a role he already knows well, this time backing up Kerkez rather than Robertson.

Why Tsimikas has moved back into Liverpool’s plans

Last summer, Liverpool brought in Kerkez with the future of the position in mind, and that left little room for Tsimikas. He then joined Roma on loan for the season, with his path at Anfield looking increasingly narrow as Liverpool weighed up their options on the left side of defense.

But the situation has changed. In Durkan’s article for This Is Anfield, citing Sport24, Liverpool are said to see Tsimikas as a practical and cost effective answer behind Kerkez rather than going back into the market.

From Liverpool’s side, the thinking is easy enough to understand. Tsimikas already knows the club, knows the demands, and knows the dressing room. In a summer that could bring major changes, that familiarity may matter more than usual.

How the season changed his outlook

Tsimikas featured throughout preseason, but then dropped out of Liverpool’s first three matchday squads before leaving on loan. According to Durkan’s This Is Anfield report, which references Sport24’s reporting by Ilias Kallonas, the late decision came down to the final calls over which left back would leave, Tsimikas or Robertson.

At Roma, he has not become a central figure, and that has only added to the sense that his long term future may still be tied to Liverpool rather than Italy. Even so, a supporting role is nothing new for him. Much of his time at Anfield has been spent providing cover, staying ready, and stepping in when needed.

That matters here, because Liverpool would not be asking him to do something unfamiliar. They would simply be asking him to return to a role he has carried before, with a different first choice ahead of him.

Why keeping him now feels like the simplest solution

There is still room for this to change if a strong offer arrives in the summer and Tsimikas decides he would rather play more regularly elsewhere. He is 29, and players at that stage are not always eager to accept another season as a backup if a bigger role opens up in another squad.

Liverpool also have to think about his contract, which runs until 2027. That gives the club a decision to make. They can keep an experienced deputy who already understands the environment, or they can listen if an offer meets their valuation.

Still, there is a clear football argument for keeping him. Durkan notes in This Is Anfield that Tsimikas played 1,675 minutes in Arne Slot’s first season, only just behind Robertson’s 1,680. That is a reminder that even a second choice full back can end up playing a serious amount of football across a long campaign.

For Liverpool, that may be the key point. If the club wants depth, experience, and continuity without spending again, bringing Tsimikas back into the fold may be the most sensible move available.

Sources: This Is Anfield, Joanna Durkan, Sport24, Ilias Kallonas