Loris Karius must have been counting down the days until pre-season after the way in which his 2017-18 campaign ended.
The 25-year-old goalkeeper will never forget the events of 26 May 2018 for as long as he lives. His two catastrophic errors against Real Madrid in the Champions League final will stay with him forever.
However, mistakes happen in football and Liverpool fans have felt more sympathetic towards Karius after it emerged that he’d suffered a concussion shortly before gifting goals to Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale.
For Karius, the only way to begin the recovery process was to get back in the saddle.
However, Liverpool’s first two pre-season friendlies suggest it could be a while before we see Karius back to his best. Fans could be forgiven for wondering if he will ever truly recover.
He was caught on camera allowing the ball to go through his legs before the match against Chester on Saturday.
And during Tuesday’s 3-2 win over Tranmere Rovers, he gifted the League Two side a goal after spilling a free-kick which he really should have saved. (Watch the video of that HERE).
KLOPP REACTS TO KARIUS’S MISTAKE
It was another terrible moment from a goalkeeper suffering a real crisis of confidence right now. Understandably, the majority of Liverpool fans have now had enough of Karius and fear their club will end next season empty-handed if he’s still the first-choice goalkeeper at Anfield.
With this in mind, they’ve been left distantly unimpressed by Jurgen Klopp’s reaction to Karius’s latest gaffe.
Klopp laying the blame mainly on two other players to try and deflect the blame off Karius. Why does he like him so much https://t.co/gTM4lYausI
— Hamza 🔴💉 (@HalalHendo) July 10, 2018
Sorry but klopp really needs to open his eyes with Karius imo, I trust klopp but I’m just a bit worried
— Sam (@SamAshfordddd) July 10, 2018
“Nobody likes that goal, but if we talk about the second goal – I think it was Millie’s fault together with Chirivella,” the German coach was quoted as saying by Liverpool’s official website.
“Two brilliant footballers make this mistake, which one was bigger? I would say the mistake of the two boys, but we don’t talk about it.”
‘WE CANNOT START A STORY AFTER EACH MISTAKE’
“Loris concedes that goal, but we cannot start a story always after each mistake.
“Mistakes will happen; I don’t like it, he doesn’t like it, but it will happen, so let’s carry on and make the best of all these situations by learning from them. That’s how it is.”
Come on now, Jurgen.
You have to admire the Liverpool boss for sticking by his most under-fire player but surely – surely – he recognises that his team desperately requires a new goalkeeper with just weeks to go before the 2018-19 season gets underway.
Klopp must see that EVERYTIME Karius makes an error he is going to be slaughtered.
I admire that he wants to rebuild him but at what cost?
— The LFC Community (@LFCCommunity) July 10, 2018
When will Klopp learn that Karius just isn’t good https://t.co/YaSI8KrIsw
— Adonis (@KobyQ_) July 10, 2018
It would be lovely if Karius came back fighting and proved all of his doubters wrong after everything he’s been through.
But hands up those who honestly believe that’ll happen…