Kostas Tsimikas is itching to stake his claim for Liverpool after returning from an ankle injury last month. The Greece international has made three substitute appearances since returning from a six-week lay-off.

The 28-year-old had started six of his 11 appearances prior to his untimely setback, as head coach Arne Slot regularly rotated between the Greek and Andy Robertson. The Scotland international has now started all of the Reds’ last 11 matches that he was available, with Tsimikas having to remain patient for opportunities as a result following his return from injury.

But after making his comeback in the League Cup quarter-finals against Southampton, he could be handed a first start since his return away at Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-finals first leg.

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And Tsimikas has insisted he is 100% fit and fully ready to make an impact for Liverpool if turned to as he looks to make up for lost time and rediscover his best form and rhythm after a ‘really tricky period’.

"It will come again hopefully,” he told the club website. “I wait for my turn from the manager to give me the chance to be back again and to play as good as I can and to help my team to achieve our goals.

"Of course it was a little bit of a tricky period for me [with] the injury I had, but now I'm 100 per cent fully back and ready for every challenge I have ahead.

"I worked really hard - a lot of hours of treatment here in the training ground, even in my house. I always try to help myself [with] healing faster.

"I came back as fast as everybody thought but when you play in these high-level football games for this club, you have to be 100 per cent. I took my time.

"Now I'm fully here and 100 per cent. It was a really tricky period but I trained really hard and that's why I'm here.”

He continued: “The only thing I care [about] is to be in the next challenge the manager will give me. The next chance, I will be there 100 per cent to play good, to help the team win the game.

“I know what I can do inside the pitch when I'm playing and I just wait [for] my chance. That's the dream for every player – to lift trophies, play football games.

“And especially when you are in this football club, it's a privilege when you are healthy and you have the chance to show yourself and to play for this club in front of all these fans. The only goal is ahead – to win trophies and to be happy."