LORIS KARIUS once again pulled on a Liverpool kit to take part in the Premier League champion’s pre-season preparations.
Having been away for two years with loan club Besiktas, the German was not thought to have much of a future on Merseyside.
Loris Karius has spent the last two years in Turkey with BesiktasCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But he travelled with his first-team colleagues to a training camp in Austria on the weekend and has spoken optimistically of the year ahead.
The Liverpool squad are currently preparing for their title defence on the outskirts of Salzburg having had to change their plans at the last minute.
Preferred base Evian-les-Bains was ditched when France was added to the UK Government’s coronavirus quarantine list.
And Karius is aiming to make the most of the, albeit limited, opportunities that may be afforded to him by Jurgen Klopp.
The 27-year-old told Transfermarkt: “Of course, I have to play if I do actually change clubs.
“It makes no sense to say, ‘I’m leaving Liverpool for a worse club and I’m only number two there’.
“But I am not in a pressure situation at all, I do not have to change.
“I can accelerate my training with Liverpool. As a second goalkeeper in England you know that you get your chances.
“I am currently with the best club in the world, playing for titles and having the highest level of training around me every day.
“I am perfectly aware that I am in a good position to be in Liverpool.”
Adrian was Klopp’s reserve keeper last season and stepped in competently when Alisson Becker was unavailable or rested.
The Spaniard is set to be the first back-up in 2020/21 too with Klopp recently praising the “incredible job” he did when called up during the first weekend of the campaign.
Reports earlier in the summer suggested Karius would therefore be available for around £6million after his Besiktas spell ended early.
The goalkeeper tore up his contract with the Turkish Super Lig side in March after 67 appearances in almost two years, following a dispute over pay.
Karius noted: “I had both positive and negative experiences. From a sporting point of view, the time was perfectly fine.
“Certainly there were also problems that weren’t directly related to sport. It shouldn’t have happened that way.
“There should be a certain relationship of trust between the player and the club. When that is no longer the case, it is difficult to feel good.”
Karius’ last appearance for Liverpool came in the 2017/18 Champions League final, where he made two howlers that helped Real Madrid to a 3-1 win in Kiev.
Liverpool flop Lloris Karius concedes yet another howler before letting pass run under his foot
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
