Karius exit would be change, not the sack, says Liverpool boss Klopp
ByPA Sport
Published 24/08/2018 at 16:48 GMT
German goalkeeper edges closer to a loan move to Besiktas.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists goalkeeper Loris Karius has not been "sacked".
Image credit: PA Sport
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists Loris Karius has not been “sacked” as he edges closer to a loan move with Besiktas – but the improvement without the goalkeeper this season has been noticeable.
The German is on the verge of a two-year £2.2million temporary deal with the Turkish club, who are obligated to buy him for a further £7.25million in 2020 if appearance and European qualification criteria are met.
Karius, who made two errors in May’s Champions League final defeat, has been replaced by Alisson Becker – who has kept clean sheets in his first two matches.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/08/24/2403959-49977955-2560-1440.jpg)
Bury v Liverpool – Pre-Season Friendly – Energy Check Stadium
Image credit: PA Sport
“It’s a normal thing in football. It happens to managers: as a manager you usually don’t need that much time between one game and another to get the sack!” said Klopp.
“It is not the sack, it is only change. That’s football, no problem with that.”
Alisson’s impact has been instantaneous and he could become only the fourth goalkeeper in the last 51 seasons after Bruce Grobbelaar, Pepe Reina and the man who will be his deputy against Brighton on Saturday – Simon Mignolet – to keep clean sheets in the first three matches of a league campaign. The Belgian has managed the feat twice.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/08/24/2403960-49977975-2560-1440.jpg)
Liverpool v Napoli – Pre-Season Friendly – Aviva Stadium
Image credit: PA Sport
How much of those two clean sheets has been down to Alisson and how much is as a result of the quality of opponents West Ham and Crystal Palace is open to debate.
However, the Brazil international has brought a new dimension to Liverpool’s game with his goalkeeping skills – which have not been fully tested yet – and his distribution.
“Good player, very good player and not only a goalkeeper but a player as well so that’s quite cool,” said Klopp of the man who commanded at the time a £65million world-record fee for a goalkeeper when he arrived this summer.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/08/24/2403961-49977995-2560-1440.jpg)
Crystal Palace v Liverpool – Premier League – Selhurst Park
Image credit: PA Sport
“He gives us a few more (offensive) opportunities so that’s cool as well, I like that.”
Not all the improvement can be laid as Alisson’s feet, however, as since their 4-1 October defeat to Tottenham last season Liverpool have the Premier League’s best defensive record.
Klopp was keen to stress that was due to the way the team is now operating.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/08/24/2403962-49978015-2560-1440.jpg)
Jurgen Klopp File Photo
Image credit: PA Sport
“You (the media) tell me when we concede goals it is our defence and you talk a lot about the centre-halves or the goalkeeper being responsible – defending is always a team thing,” said the Reds boss.
“We did well not only this season, since a longer period already we defended well.
“We are an offensive-orientated team based on the best possible organisation and that means organisation is important in offensive and defensive things. It is something we are constantly working on.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/08/24/2403963-49978035-2560-1440.jpg)
Virgil van Dijk File Photo
Image credit: PA Sport
“Every game we go in it is probably 60 or 70 per cent we talk about our defence and what we can do to create stability, you need to do a few offensive things.
“We improved in that step-by-step but it needs to stay like this. This season twice (we have had) a clean sheet but at the end of the season if we only have two clean sheets no one is happy about that.”
At the other end of the pitch Sadio Mane, the man overshadowed by Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino’s goalscoring feats last season, is setting the standards this time around.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/08/24/2403964-49978055-2560-1440.jpg)
Crystal Palace v Liverpool – Premier League – Selhurst Park
Image credit: PA Sport
The Senegal international, who is still in talks over a new contract at the club, is the Premier League’s top scorer with three goals – alongside Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero and Everton’s Richarlison.
Klopp added: “We knew we would get a good player when we signed him from Southampton. Did we exactly know how good? I wouldn’t say so.”
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement