LEARNING FROM KARIUS MISTAKES

WITH fewer things to look forward to, you can’t help looking back.

Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius has been doing just that in lockdown.

The German posted a pic of himself as a nipper (left), when he used to compete in motocross.

You’ll be reminded of the old BBC TV show Junior Kick Start, with its upbeat theme tune and jaunty disregard for child safety.

A lot of kids on motorbikes coming a cropper on a wet obstacle course, losing a tooth, bruising a clanger.

Karius’ clangers are famous of course. His mistakes in the 2018 Champions League final cost Liverpool the crown.

He’d been concussed by Sergio Ramos’ elbow, and made two shocking blunders. By the time his head cleared it was all over, and Jurgen Klopp had shipped his poor, befuddled cat to Turkey.

You might think that was a callous act and feel great sympathy for Karius. He didn’t make those mistakes deliberately and, after all, no one died.

Now look back over Britain’s coronavirus campaign.

Mistakes have been made. You can argue whether they were made deliberately, as clear-eyed policy, or just human failure on the big stage. But people did die, are dying. We are being repeatedly told to feel sympathy for blundering Boris Johnson, the flop in the No.1 shirt.

He’s taken a knock, he’s doing his best, and it’s not easy is it?

But look back. Karius was axed for a better outcome next time.

And no campaign of spin, data fiddling or misdirection will change the fact that it worked.