Liverpool fullback Kostas Tsimikas has explained his early return from the Greece squad.

Tsimikas says he chose to return early with a luchtime kickoff due Saturday at Manchester City.

He told Liverpoolfc.com: "I could not play in the game against France because if I should take a yellow card, I would not play in the [play-off] games in March, which are more important than the one against France.

"I decided to come back earlier to the team, to be with the squad, to train with the team, to be more ready.

"It was my decision and this is what I wanted to do because, as everybody knows, most of the time we play 12.30 after the international break and even the players who played far, they didn't come yet, they come probably one day, two days before the game.

"So for me, I think it was a very good chance to come earlier to be with the team and to train hard."