Rival watch: Liverpool left-back a doubt for Real Madrid clash after fresh ankle injury | OneFootball

According to a recent update provided by Paul Joyce, it has come to light that Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas is facing a short spell on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury during training.

This unfortunate setback leaves him highly likely to miss Liverpool’s upcoming match against Real Madrid, adding to the club’s defensive concerns.

Manager Arne Slot, already grappling with issues regarding the right side of the defence, now faces a challenge on the left as well.

A regular player in rotation

Tsimikas has been a valuable player for Liverpool this season, stepping in regularly for Andy Robertson.

Since Slot’s arrival at Anfield, the Greek defender has found more opportunities to feature, including making six starts in all competitions. Half of these starts came in the Champions League group stages, highlighting his importance to the team.

Kostas Tsimikas picked up an ankle injury in training. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Before his injury, Tsimikas had been expected to feature prominently, especially after Robertson played a full 90 minutes in Liverpool’s 3-2 win against Southampton.

With Robertson’s continued fitness, Tsimikas seemed poised to get the nod for the upcoming match against Real Madrid. However, this injury now throws that plan into doubt.

No update on Alexander-Arnold

Adding to Slot’s defensive woes is the uncertainty surrounding the availability of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The right-back was absent for the Southampton match, and while Slot has expressed optimism about his recovery, his fitness for the Real Madrid clash remains uncertain.

If Alexander-Arnold does return to full fitness in time, which is likely since he has returned to group training today, Slot may still hesitate to start him.

The risk of starting a player who has been out for nearly three weeks against a player like Kylian Mbappe is something the manager may want to avoid.

While these defensive absences are a problem for Liverpool, it comes in a blessing in disguise for Real Madrid, who are facing injury issues of their own. This includes the absence of Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eder Militao.