News'One more final - we'll go for it' - Kostas Tsimikas' preview of Liverpool v Aston Villa

On Saturday night, the Reds bring an end to a busy period that will have seen them play seven games in a 21-day spell when Aston Villa visit Anfield.

It's the third home fixture in a row for Tsimikas and his teammates as they look to harness the crowd's energy into intensity on the pitch once again.

"It's just a pleasure when you play three games in a row in your home," Tsimikas told Liverpoolfc.com. "Even the fans are very satisfied – every two or three days, come to our castle and we play very important games for us.

"It's the last game before the international break. We want to win that and go to the national teams, [and come] back healthy.

"Always we try to compete and we try to give everything in every situation and every game. It's one more final for us, as we see every single game. So, we'll go for it and try to win."

On Anfield's atmosphere, Tsimikas added: "Of course, always it's on fire, I think everybody knows that.

"When you push them to give, you give them a little bit, always they go very loud, and it always helps push us.

"It's our 12th player in the stadium. They help us a lot. When the team doesn't play so well, they give us extra power to keep going really hard and to achieve our goals."

Tsimikas has been a starter in Liverpool's last two matches, keeping his place in the XI for Tuesday's win over Bayer Leverkusen after helping the team overcome Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League a few days earlier.

The 28-year-old is thankful for the trust given to him by Arne Slot and fully embracing his left-back competition with Andy Robertson.

"I really enjoy [it], I really want to play," Tsimikas said. "I just train really hard, I think all the people know that from the team. I'm really enjoying playing.

"For me and Robbo, it's very healthy competition always, we help each other and always try to push each other to the limits.

"At the moment I really enjoy to play with these teammates in this team and give absolutely everything, as I do all the time."

Tsimikas is one of many players within Slot's squad currently making the most of their opportunities.

Indeed, Luis Diaz fired in a second-half hat-trick against Leverkusen and was joined on the scoresheet by Cody Gakpo, who has four goals in his last three appearances.

"As I've said many times, the depth we have – very, very talented players," Tsimikas continued. "Both of them [Diaz and Gakpo] have quality, both of them always work really hard and they want to play.

"That's a very good challenge, in my opinion, they always want to set a higher level for the other one.

"They are doing very well and I hope all the best for them both to continue doing it like this and to give us the points."

• Slot press conference: Aston Villa, Curtis Jones and left-back competition