Liverpool driven on by 'destroyed' season

Liverpool defender Kostas Tsimikas said last season's heartbreak was driving the Reds' excellent start this campaign, after Wednesday's 1-0 Champions League win at RB Leipzig.

Last year, Liverpool won the League Cup and were were top of the Premier League table in Jurgen Klopp's swansong and on track for four trophies, when a run of poor form saw them crash out of contention.

This year, Liverpool have won 11 of 12 in all competitions under new manager Arne Slot – the best start ever for a Reds manager.

Named man of the match in Wednesday's win, Tsimikas admitted the late failings of last season are driving the side this time around.

"Of course (it is driving us). I think the last season, at the end, we destroyed everything," he said.

"After one bad result, I think, against Man Utd, I think the team in the next fixtures were not the team we were before."

Best performance? 🌟#UCL pic.twitter.com/WC1xl3lrHQ

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 23, 2024

Liverpool are top of the Premier League table and are one of only two teams, alongside Aston Villa, to have claimed three wins from three in the Champions League this season.

They travel to fellow title rivals Arsenal on Sunday and could go seven points clear of the Gunners with a win.

Tsimikas said it was "too early" to talk about trophies, but added "we set our goals at the start of the season and we want to go for everything."

"I think we will go to Arsenal to play our football, to win the game, that's our target. We just watch every game, game by game we have to win, to take the three points and to play good football."

Darwin Nunez scored the only goal in the game, his first in the competition since February, and manager Arne Slot said he "asked for goals – maybe more than one – but he gave us one today".

"It was a team goal. It's pleasing to see that Darwin did a very good job today."