Greek full-back Kostas Tsimikas knows Liverpool need to perform better following a run of tough results.
The team have conceded more than they have in recent years and have looked frail in defence at times.
Tsimikas said: “I think we’ve conceded a lot of goals and we’ve not played compact as defenders. It’s a bad start for us as a team.
“We have to go through it and fight back altogether. All 11 players have to defend properly.”
At times this season, the Reds have looked tired, perhaps down to the fact they played more games than any other team in Europe’s top leagues last campaign.
Tsimikas added: “Last year was very difficult. We played a lot of games.
“Now we have to be focused for every challenge that we face.
“We have to go through it and be altogether again. Tomorrow’s game, we have to be focused and ready to go and win the game.”
Liverpool lost out on the Premier League by a single point last season, despite being a long way off in the opening stages.
Tsimikas thinks history could repeat itself.
He said: “Nothing is finished yet. We have to bounce back.
“If you remember last year we were 15 points back and then we came so close to winning the Premier League.
“First of all, we have to win football games. This starts from tomorrow’s game.
“We set the same goals at the start of the season. The team will bounce back and will be 100% again.”
“The team has been not so good”
The result against Brighton was a tough one for the Liverpool squad.
It forces an introspective look from the players, who understand better than most, what it’s like to not perform.
Tsimikas: “Everybody knows that it’s not enough. The team has been not so good.
“The game against Brighton, everyone knew that they are a very good team that plays good football.
“We were not so focused in the start and that’s why we conceded two goals. We scored three but couldn’t keep the result.
“What’s important now is to win football matches and this team has to do exactly that.”
Liverpool pushed everyone in every single competition last season and Tsimikas was the Reds to be doing the same thing again this year.
He said: “We do exactly the same. How we play is the same as last year.
“Last year we had the same structure and we went to try and win every competition.
“We won two cups, lost the Premier League by one point and went to the final of the Champions League.
“The good thing is that we have a game tomorrow and we get to show what we are again.
“Everyone is looking forward to this game and we will be 100% focused.”
The Brighton game started a hectic period for Liverpool with 13 games between now and the start of the World Cup on November 21.
Tsimikas said: “The best is to play after two days. It’s an opportunity to show that the last game was just a bad moment.
“Everyone in the team wanted to win against Brighton and we tried until the last moment, that’s why tomorrow’s game is an opportunity for us to bounce back and to win.”
Fullbacks in the squad
Liverpool have plenty of quality in the fullback position, with Tsimikas one of four players vying for a place in the starting XI.
He, alongside Andy Robertson, take the positions on the left flank.
And English fullback Trent Alexander-Arnold now has new competition in the form of Scot Calvin Ramsey.
Tsimikas said: “Andy is a very good person. He is a world class player and he is there for anything I need.
“I help him when I’m on the bench and I see the game from the outside.
“We spend time in the dressing room and always speak for everything. I thank him for this.
“[Calvin] is a good lad, when he came to the team and when he was injured we spent some time together to see what type of guy he is.
“He will help the team. Now he’s fully fit, I see him in training doing some really good stuff. It’s going to be good competition.”
Liverpool take on Rangers at Anfield tomorrow (Tuesday, October 4) with the team needing three points to consolidate their position in Group A.
