Loris Karius, currently with Schalke (as of January 2025), is still widely associated with his time at Liverpool. The German goalkeeper joined the Reds from Mainz in 2016, early in Jurgen Klopp’s tenure at Anfield — a reign that would later become iconic.
Though Karius spent six years at Liverpool, he didn’t make any appearances for the club after 2018. He was a key figure in Klopp’s third season, when Liverpool reached the Champions League final against Real Madrid — a night that would define Karius’ legacy.
In that final, Karius collided with Sergio Ramos early in the game — an incident later cited as a factor in his two major mistakes. First, his attempted rollout was intercepted by Karim Benzema, resulting in a goal. Later, he misjudged a long-range shot from Gareth Bale, sealing Real Madrid’s 3–1 victory.
Karius’ Liverpool Stats
| Competition | Appearances | Clean Sheets | Goals Conceded | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 29 | 13 | 26 | 2,610 |
| Champions League | 13 | 6 | 16 | 1,170 |
| FA Cup | 4 | 2 | 3 | 360 |
| League Cup | 3 | 1 | 2 | 270 |
After loan stints with Besiktas and Union Berlin, Karius was released by Liverpool in 2022. While that Champions League final remains a sore memory for many fans, signs of concern had already surfaced. In particular, a poor performance against Bournemouth in 2016 drew heavy criticism.
Neville’s Harsh Words
Following a 4–3 loss to Bournemouth, where Karius mishandled a late shot that led to Nathan Aké’s winner, pundit Gary Neville declared:
“It’s tough to win the league without a good goalkeeper. He’s not good enough. He looks nervous and isn’t good enough.”
This sparked backlash from Klopp and even Karius himself, who dismissed Neville’s opinion. Phil Neville later commented on Match of the Day 2 that young players should focus on hard work and avoid media distractions early in their careers.
Neville’s Apology
Years later, Neville admitted he was overly critical:
“I overstepped the line once as a pundit — with Karius. I was too harsh. He was young, new to the country, and playing for a massive club like Liverpool. I still believe what I said — they signed Alisson and Van Dijk and went on to win — but I should have said it differently.”
He acknowledged that, while his analysis might have been accurate, his delivery lacked the empathy expected of a former player and coach.
