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Loris Karius

Liverpool legend Gerrard backs Karius to overcome Champions League horror show

Steven Gerrard has urged Liverpool to stick with goalkeeper Loris Karius, claiming the Reds shot-stopper has the potential to be a 'very good' player. 

The 25-year-old established himself as Jurgen Klopp's first-choice 'keeper at Anfield last season and was key in the club reaching the Champions League final in Kiev. 

However, during the showdown against Real Madrid Karius gifted goals to Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale as Liverpool fell to a 3-1 defeat.

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Karius had collided with Sergio Ramos prior to the mistakes and Liverpool clarified after the final that he had sustained concussion, though the statement did not mention the tangle with the Real captain.

His errors led to widespread criticism and public spats between players and fans, with Klopp making no secret of his desire to sign a goalkeeper in the summer transfer window.

Liverpool icon Gerrard, however, now manager of Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, believes that Karius can still prove himself a success in Merseyside.

Loris Karius Real Madrid Liverpool

“Karius, to be fair to him, was getting stronger and stronger as the season when on," Gerrard is quoted by the Liverpool Echo. “I think the key is does Jurgen think he has the mental strength to bounce back?

“Is he capable of parking that up, moving on and drawing from the experience?

“If Jurgen doesn’t think he is capable of bouncing back from that of course he will have to go into the market and get another goalkeeper but Jurgen knows him better than me.

“The easy thing to do is put a cross through his name and bin him but you have to remember he took Liverpool to the Champions League final.

“He is young so we don’t want to bin a good goalkeeper because he does have the potential to be very good.”

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