Liverpool: What happened to goalkeeper Loris Karius?

On May 26th 2018, Liverpool were playing in their first UEFA Champions League Final since the 2007 loss to AC Milan in Athens. The Reds were to take on European powerhouses Real Madrid, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale in their ranks.

Despite an early injury to Mohamed Salah, the Reds stayed in the game relatively well, that was until goalkeeper Loris Karius made a huge blunder, allowing Benzema to score, and spell the end of the team’s hopes of lifting the famous trophy that year.

The following year, Liverpool would sign Brazilian Alisson Becker, whom they beat when he was part of an AS Roma team that pushed the Reds en route to the final. Alisson would take over the No. 1 shirt and Karius would find himself loaned out, rueing his nightmare in Kiev.

So what happened to the German stopper?

That night in Kiev could forever live in the nightmares for Karius – as in the time since – he has not played a single competitive minute for Liverpool, and nor will he.

Before that fateful night, Karius was the youngest keeper ever to play in the Bundesliga, being handed his debut at Mainz by the now Chelsea manager, Thomas Tuchel. He would go on to get 32 clean sheets in 96 games, before being scooped up by Jurgen Klopp, to compete, and then take over from Simon Mignolet.

In the run to Kiev, Karius would start all 13 games, keeping six clean sheets in the process. Despite the form, Karius had made mistakes, most notably in the semi-final against Roma, where he palmed a shot away gifting a goal to Edin Dzeko, who made it 2-2 on the night; it was on the 26th of May 2018, however, Karius was seen in a Liverpool shirt for the last time.

Despite Klopp’s endeavour to start afresh, the pressures and spotlight would be too much for the German, and plans to buy a new goalkeeper were already set in place. With Alisson in, Karius was out, and went on a two-year loan to Turkish side Besiktas, with an additional clause to make the move a permanent one in 2020, for £7.25 million.

His time in Turkey was met with promise, but the mistakes still followed – so much so – the player was openly criticised by his own manager before Karius took legal action over alleged unpaid wages. This resulted in ending his loan spell, and another sour day.

"It is a shame it comes to an end like this, but you should know that I have tried everything to solve this situation without any problems. Karius said."

Following this, the German would return to his native country, on a loan deal with Union Berlin. The same themes would continue, as he spent the majority of the season on the bench, backing up Andreas Luthe.

Off the field, Karius also had problems, being criticised for his constant posting on social media and involvement with local fashion brands, along with his breakup from his long-time partner.

Since then, the player has returned to Liverpool, with his road back to football, uncertain. His contract expires next summer and by not making any move in the summer window, Karius has effectively written off any playing time till January.

Three and half years on from that day, Karius finds himself as the fourth choice goalkeeper on Merseyside, still trying to find redemption, and shake off the narrative of what happened in Kiev.