Loris Karius Reportedly Wins Liverpool Starting Job for 2018-19 Season

According to reports, Jürgen Klopp is convinced and Alisson has been told not to expect an offer.

A lot has changed in recent months when it comes to Liverpool’s goalkeeping situation. From Simon Mignolet starting in the autumn to Loris Karius replacing him in January and talk of a likely bid for Roma stopper Alisson—first in January and then the summer—it’s been a position of shifting uncertainty.

At least until now, perhaps, with The Liverpool Echo claiming that Loris Karius has, baring a complete collapse in form the rest of the way, won the starting job long-term, that he will be the club’s first choice ‘keeper next season, and that Alisson’s representatives have been told Liverpool will not move for him.

According to Kristian Walsh, having one of Liverpool’s current stoppers win the job long-term was always Jürgen Klopp’s preference, and Karius’ strong play since being handed the starting job in January has impressed him enough that he feels comfortable moving forward with Karius as his number one.

This won’t come as especially surprising news for many, given Karius hasn’t put a foot wrong in three months now and increasingly has looked like the player the club thought they were signing when they triggered his release clause to sign him from Mainz in 2016 for around €5M.

Though some have held the low fee against him, it has often been the case that German clubs will offer young and unproven players low release clauses in order for them to accept lower wages, and this can sometimes come back to hurt clubs when players develop more quickly than expected.

Now, if as reported Karius is Liverpool’s first choice shot stopper long-term—and if, of course, he can maintain his current form—it will look like a steal of a fee, better even than the €12M it cost to trigger Emre Can’s release from Bayer Leverkusen in a similar deal.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com