Gary Neville has told The Daily Mail that he was wrong to criticise Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius the way he did back in 2016.
What’s the story?
Manchester United legend Neville strongly criticised Liverpool goalkeeper Karius in December 2016.
Then a regular in the Liverpool first team, the 28-year-old goalkeeper gave away a tame goal against Bournemouth.
Sky Sports pundit Neville strongly criticised the German goalkeeper, saying that he is “not good enough”.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp subsequently defended Karius, who himself brushed aside the criticism from Neville.
What Gary Neville now says
Former Manchester United defender Neville has said that he was wrong to hammer Karius the way he did.
However, the Sky Sports pundit has pointed out that he was eventually proved right.
Neville told The Daily Mail: “I think I have overstepped the mark once in punditry when I have attacked a player that was above and beyond what I should have done as an ex-pro, a coach and an owner.
“I think I am a respectable human being. I thought I went too far on Karius. I said Liverpool would never win the league with him.
“He criticised me after and so did Jurgen Klopp. No problem. I look back now and think I criticised the lad too much for his age, his position.
“I actually think I was right. They signed Alisson and [Virgil] van Dijk and won it [the Premier League]. But that doesn’t mean I should have done it.”
Liverpool struggles
Karius did make mistakes while at Liverpool, like the ones against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
The 28-year-old is a good goalkeeper, but Alisson is better.
Since the Brazil international goalkeeper joined the Reds, Liverpool have won the Premier League title and the Champions League.
Meanwhile, Karius has been out on loan at Besiktas and Union Berlin since 2018.
Karius is 28 now.
There is no future at Liverpool for the German, but he could still find another top club.
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