DERBY, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 20, 2016: Liverpool's goalkeeper Loris Karius warms-up before the Football League Cup 3rd Round match against Derby County at Pride Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius: “We will see who is No. 1 against Hull”

Loris Karius has stressed his desire to take over as first-choice goalkeeper at Liverpool, continuing against Hull City on Saturday.

It remains up in the air as to whether Jurgen Klopp will revert to his No. 1 for 2016/17 so far, Simon Mignolet, or hand Karius his second start in as many games.

The 23-year-old, who joined from Mainz 05 in a deal worth £4.7 million in May, made his debut for the club away to Derby County on Tuesday night.

Helping to secure progress from the League Cup‘s third round by keeping a clean sheet, Karius impressed in what was a relatively quiet night at Pride Park.

Mignolet remained on the substitutes’ bench throughout, and speaking to German publication Die Zeit after the game, Karius stressed that he hoped it remained that way.

“We will see who is at the gate at the weekend against Hull,” he said, when asked who would be No. 1 at Anfield.

“It is clear I want to play, but we all want to play.

“The important thing, though, is that we are working well in practice and harmonise as a team. The rest—the coach has to decide.”

DERBY, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 20, 2016: Liverpool's goalkeeper Loris Karius in action against Derby County during the Football League Cup 3rd Round match at Pride Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Karius spent the first weeks of the season sidelined with a broken hand suffered against Chelsea in pre-season, but made a remarkable recovery to take his place on the bench for Liverpool’s first game at the newly redeveloped Anfield.

Then making his debut against the Rams, Karius continued to explain how it was crucial for his reassurance that he got through the 90 minutes unscathed.

“It is an overwhelming feeling to have finally given my competitive debut for Liverpool after my injury,” he said.

“That it then ended with a 3-0 win, of course, is all the better.

“For me personally it was important to see if the hand was at 100 percent for the 90 minutes. That was definitely the case.

“That I could be back on the field seven weeks after breaking my hand against Chelsea, hardly anyone could have imagined—I did not.”

After his successful recovery, Karius has set his sights on making the No. 1 spot his own, and Klopp could give a clear indication of his plans by 2pm on Saturday afternoon.

More from This Is Anfield

Fan Comments