News'First positive step' - Arne Slot on Kostas Tsimikas recovery

The Greece international last appeared for the Reds on November 5, being sidelined since due to injury.

Tsimikas was pictured undertaking an individual session outside at the AXA Training Centre earlier this week, and head coach Slot told reporters: “He has made the first positive step.

“But when players are back on the grass, still [for] playing time sometimes there is a little bit of time in between that.

“But I cannot say exactly how long because not every player reacts in the same way. Some players are earlier back with the same injury and some players need a little bit more time.”

In Tsimikas’ absence, Andy Robertson has started each of the Reds’ last six matches in all competitions, and the visit of Fulham to Anfield today is the first of five games in the next 15 days.

“Rhythm is always a bit of a challenge, compared to not overplaying them, especially in these positions,” said Slot. “So, for example, the left full-back position is a position where you run much more than the centre-back position.

“That is something you have to take into account. I am really happy with how Robbo is coping with this at the moment. But everybody is telling me, and I know, there are many, many, many games still to come in the upcoming month and January as well.

“So I am hoping that Kostas is back as soon as he can be because playing all these games in that position is… a risk is a bit much to say but you could ask too much from him [Robertson].”

On the status of Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate, who are also out injured, Slot said: “I have no clue [when they will be back], they are not on the pitch yet.

“Well, of course I have a clue, but it is not that there is a game in our heads that we want them back for, no.”