Steve McManaman says Konstantinos Tsimikas would have angered his Liverpool teammates on Wednesday night at Ibrox. Co-commentating for BT Sport, McManaman blasted the Liverpool defender for a free-kick in the second half.
Liverpool ended the night with a huge 7-1 win, but it was not all positives. Rangers were the better side in the first half, even taking the lead through Scott Arfield. But Liverpool were a different animal during the second 45 in Glasgow.
Roberto Firmino got two, Mo Salah got three – while Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott also found the net. But with the scoreline reading 1-1 ahead of Firmino’s second goal, Liverpool had the chance to score from a free-kick at Ibrox.
Jordan Henderson was also around the free-kick, and speaking heavily with Tsimikas. A free-kick that might have been better off curling into the box – but £12m Tsimikas, rather tamely, fired the ball over. McManaman was not impressed.
“That’ll drive you mad that. The centre-backs have made a 50-yard run, and now have to make a 50-yard run back. That can’t have been the plan,” McManaman said about Tsimikas, while co-commentating on the game for BT Sport.
McManaman: Tsimikas would have angered Liverpool teammates at Ibrox
Obviously, Tsimikas is not first choice in the Liverpool side and when the Reds are at their strongest, he is not taking free-kicks. It was the wrong decision to shoot from such a tight angle, and it was awful execution of the set piece.
A little right-footed clip to the back post would have been much-better served. However, it pales into insignificance, given Liverpool’s superb second-half display and Salah’s incredible six-minute hat-trick. Rangers were powerless.
It is just what Jurgen Klopp will have wanted from his Liverpool players. Salah back in form, Nunez netting again, Firmino continuing his fine form – ahead of Sunday’s clash against Manchester City.
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