Steve McManaman believes Kostas Tsimikas lost concentration at a crucial point and was to blame for Liverpool’s loss against Toulouse.
Aron Donnum scampered into the box and scored on a deflection from Jarell Quansah after Liverpool’s deputy left-back dithered on the ball in his own half.
It placed Liverpool down 1-0 near the halftime break in a Europa League game that they eventually lost 3-2.
Since typical left-back Andy Robertson was injured while playing for Scotland against Spain in a Euro 2024 qualifier in October, Tsimikas has started four of six games.
While Joe Gomez and Luke Chambers have been given opportunities at left back, Tsimikas is typically trusted, but McManaman emphasized his blunder against Toulouse.
‘It was horrible from Tsimikas, he just fell asleep and allowed the opponent to get into the game,’ he told TNT Sports.
Caiomhin Kelleher has little chance with the deflection, which sails off Jarell Quansah’s thigh and into the net.
‘A very improbable lead for the hosts, and not a good look from the Liverpool left-back.
‘Really terrible performance.’
Robertson’s recuperation timetable has been touted as being until around Christmas, implying that Liverpool’s understudy is experiencing the rigors of sustained play for the first time in his Reds career.
Liverpool struggled to find their customary rhythm against Toulouse, who put forth a good display in a hostile environment.
Klopp made three substitutions at halftime, including Tsimikas, but his team fell 3-2 after a late VAR disagreement ruled out Quansah’s goal.
The ball was ruled to have come off Alexis Mac Allister’s arm in the build-up, therefore Quansah’s stoppage-time equalizer was disallowed.
