There is something wrong with Loris Karius. That’s the assessment from Besiktas manager Senol Gunes after the German’s latest mistake whilst on loan in Turkey, with things clearly not improving since he left Liverpool.
Virgil van Dijk has correctly received a lot of credit for how he has helped Liverpool turn around their fortunes when it comes to defending. The centre back’s been so good some think he should win the Premier League’s player of the year award.
However, it’s not just the Dutchman who makes a difference but also Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Alisson Becker, who was signed in the summer.
Alisson had been linked with a move to Anfield previously but once Loris Karius made two huge errors in the Champions League final it was inevitable he’d be replaced.
The 25-year-old moved to Besiktas on a two-year loan, with an option to buy, but he’s still had a number of high profile blunders, including one at the weekend:
And now the Besiktas manager Senol Gunes has questioned the former Mainz goalkeeper’s mind set, saying:
“He was at fault for the goals he conceded.
“Karius has gone a bit stagnant, something is wrong with his electricity, motivation, enthusiasm for the game. It has been like that since the beginning.
“He does not really feel a part of the team, it’s something we haven’t been able to work out and, of course, I am partly to blame for this.
“Something is wrong, he has also been unlucky. He is talented but it hasn’t worked out and we have a problem
“Let me put it this way, if I still had Tolga available I would play him.”
Karius was clearly distraught from his mistakes in Kyiv last year and it looks like it’s still affecting him 10 months on.
With the admission from Gunes that he’d drop the goalie if his other senior goalkeeper was available it doesn’t look like Karius’ long term future is with the Turkish club.
There’s very little chance he could force his way ahead of Alisson in Liverpool’s pecking order so what is the future for Karius?
