KNOCKOUT!
Karius shines on road back from Kiev concussion trauma
THE modest Swansway Chester Stadium is a world away from Kiev and the Champions League final – but for Loris Karius it represented the first steps to redemption.
If he thought that England’s World Cup encounter with Sweden would take away some of the glare of his return then he was in for a rude shock.
A full house, with half the stadium packed out with Liverpool fans, meant there was no hiding place for the 25-year-old.
And certainly not when after just 10 minutes gangly Chester striker Jordan Archer found himself bursting through one-onone with the German.
An earlier comfortable save had produced an ironic cheer, but the Liverpool fans behind his goal rose as one when Karius spread himself and brilliantly diverted the low strike over the bar.
Delighted Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said: “It was a difficult save and it looked good. I’m not sure if I should have expected a different reception [ from the fans].
“But the whole thing could have started again [if he had made a mistake]. We need to cool down the situation.”
There will be far sterner examinations than a game against a side down in football’s sixth tier, but so far, so good – although the transfer window is still wide open with Liverpool’s interest in Roma keeper Alisson and Stoke’s Jack Butland well known.
It was a 45-minute workout for Karius, who made way for Danny Ward in the second half – but just before the break his heart was in his mouth as he only just managed to hold on to a Dominic Smalley cross.
Forty one days and 1,697 miles have been crossed since that fateful night in Ukraine, but Klopp has not hesitated in displaying his faith in a keeper who he insists was suffering from concussion when he made the two fateful errors which contributed to Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat by Real Madrid.
Also on view in a strong squad which made the short trip across the Mersey were the two big summer signings, Fabinho and Naby Keita.
Fabinho played the first 45 minutes, an imposing presence in front of the back four. He struck a post but would have been booked in a league game for a deliberate trip on Craig Mahon.
Keita (left), far more diminutive, looked calm and assured in a second-half run-out in his first appearance since his £57million arrival from RB Leipzig. “They bring quality,” said Klopp. “Naby knows the philosophy. It’s what he has been used to. It was different for Fabinho at Monaco. If you want to be part of this squad you have to be good, and these two are really good.”
For Chester’s new management pair of Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley, fresh from success and the sack at Salford City, it was a predictable outcome.
Harry Wilson’s first-half double paved the way for James Milner (penalty), Daniel Sturridge (2), Ryan Kent and wantaway Danny Ings in a Liverpool cruise.