Karius howlers to prompt new bid for Alisson
LIVERPOOL will make another attempt to sign Roma goalkeeper Alisson after the flaws in Jurgen Klopp’s side were calamitously exposed in the Champions League final.
Loris Karius inevitably received severe criticism after two unfathomable errors gifted Karim Benzema the opening goal and Gareth Bale a late third in Real Madrid’s 3-1 win.
Klopp was already considering a new goalkeeper before Saturday’s poor performance from his No 1.
Tentative inquiries for Brazilian international Alisson were rebuffed earlier this season – a price tag of more than £60m was over Liverpool’s valuation.
There will be sympathy for the 24-year-old Karius on a human level after his nightmare performance, but such mistakes are unacceptable at the highest level.
Just like Jerzy Dudek, the hero in Istanbul in 2005, and Sander Westerveld, a 2001 UEFA Cup winner, a European final may now prove to be the catalyst for a change in goalkeeper at Anfield.
RELUCTANCE
The complication is Klopp’s reluctance to broaden his search beyond the preferred option.
Before Saturday’s final, Klopp felt Alisson was the only goalkeeper worth pursuing and, if he could not sign him, he was ready to be patient rather than squander millions.
The German took the same approach last summer when he wanted only Virgil van Dijk rather than work through a list of centrebacks.
There are further echoes of the Van Dijk case in that Roma, like Southampton, feel they have been previously stung by Liverpool in the transfer market, having sold Mohamed Salah for just £39m last summer.
As ever, much will depend on whether the player wants the move, and Roma have well-documented financial issues.
If the Italian club are immovable, Klopp has a dilemma. He already needs one new goalkeeper because Simon Mignolet is expected to leave, having been replaced by Karius as first-choice.
Klopp must decide if his young goalkeeper can be successfully rehabilitated and win back the trust of his team-mates; otherwise he will have no choice but to compromise and reassess the expensive alternatives to Alisson (right).
That would be a shift from the Liverpool manager, who has shown throughout his career how he prefers to stand by his players, even more so at their lowest ebb.
Karius made a post on social media yesterday, writing: “Haven’t really slept until now. The scenes are still running through my head again and again.
“I’m infinitely sorry to my team-mates, for you fans, and for all the staff. I know that I messed up with the two mistakes and let you all down. I’d just like to turn back the time, but that’s not possible. “It’s even worse as we all felt that we could have beaten Real Madrid and we were in the game for a long time. Thank you to our unbelievable fans who came to Kiev and held my back, even after the game.
“I don’t take that for granted and it showed me what a big family we are. We will come back stronger.” (© Daily Telegraph, London)