Karius arrived from Mainz this summer.
Liverpool’s Loris Karius warms up before the match
Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius seems determined to start the season as their first choice keeper following his £4.7 million arrival from Mainz, saying to the Liverpool Echo: “I’ve not come here to sit on the bench.”
There was some expectation that Karius would represent Germany at this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro – meaning he would have missed the opening games of the season, but manager Jurgen Klopp ensured he would be available for the Reds during that period.
The 23-year-old seems intent of getting himself ahead of Simon Mignolet in the goalkeeping pecking order – as the Belgian has been the first choice keeper for the past three seasons at Anfield.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp
Karius is quoted in the Liverpool Echo, saying: “I spoke with the manager and we said that it didn’t make sense for me to go to the Olympics as I would miss the first two league games of the season and of course I want to play in them.
“We agreed together I wouldn’t be going. First I spoke with Jurgen and then together we spoke with the German people who wanted me to go.
“The priority is the club. It’s more important that I am available for the start of the season.”
Liverpool’s Loris Karius
As a result, it would be a surprise to many if he wasn’t starting the opening game of the season against Arsenal in goal, especially given that in the pre-season games so far he has been playing what looks likely to be the central defensive partnership of Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren.
Karius explained that he wouldn’t have made the move to Merseyside if he didn’t think he was capable of being the club’s number one which demonstrates some self-confidence that Liverpool haven’t had from their goalkeeper for quite some time.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp
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