Klopp drops the Reds’ butter-fingers

JURGEN Klopp has offered Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius no guarantee of a recall after dropping the error-prone German for his side’s 3-0 win against Middlesbrough.

Reds boss Klopp admitted it was difficult telling the 23-year-old that he had been benched in favour of Belgium international Simon Mignolet for the comprehensive victory at the Riverside Stadium that pushed the Anfield side up to second in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Karius paid the price for conceding six goals in two games as the Reds dropped five points against Bournemouth and West Ham to dent their title hopes.

They now trail leaders Chelsea by six points after climbing above Arsenal on goals scored, and Klopp said: “Loris is not that fine [about being dropped] but it’s a normal decision in football. When you’re not at the best moment you step aside, train hard and see what happens. It’s not the best moment for him at present.”

Asked to put a timescale on the likely first-team absence of the summer signing from Mainz, Klopp added: “That’s not how football works. I’m really happy with our goalkeeper situation, but there’s no reason to push one through...”

Klopp denied he had bowed to pundits pressure in the wake of criticism aimed at Karius from former Manchester United defenders Phil and Gary Neville, who had both criticised the keeper in recent weeks.

“Liverpool FC is a longterm project. We know we have to be as successful as soon as possible and I’m not interested in public pressure but I didn’t want to put Loris through it,” said Klopp.

“I know how strong a character he is. But there was no need to put him through this pressure, especially seeing as we have such a good goalkeeper as Simon Mignolet to call upon.”

Mignolet can expect to keep his place after a gruelling run of five leagues in 19 days got off to the best possible start with Liverpool’s first win at the Riverside Stadium for more than 14 years. — AFP