Liverpool

Liverpool keeper Loris Karius: 'I will learn from being dropped'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 04 December 2017

Loris Karius says that he has "learned a few things" since being usurped by Simon Mignolet in the Liverpool goal during the 2016-17 campaign.

Loris Karius has admitted that his below-par displays were to blame for being relegated to the Liverpool bench, but he hopes to learn from the experience.

The 24-year-old made the switch from German side Mainz 05 to Anfield 18 months ago, appearing just 11 times in the Premier League since then.

Karius was unable to hold down the number-one top, being demoted to back-up behind Simon Mignolet after initially usurping the Belgium international.

Boss Jurgen Klopp is expected to use Karius in this week's key Champions League tie against Spartak Moscow, however, and the ex-Manchester City academy prospect intends to make the most of sixth start in the competition.

"It was just a few games that were not good," he told ESPN. "I also just came back from injury. Maybe I wasn't at my highest level. We didn't play well for a couple of games, I didn't do so well and this stuff happened.

"I learned a few things that I can take with me, although it wasn't positive. I took it with me and it's more experience. This year is a new experience again, it's the Champions League, so I'm collecting the new experience. Hopefully I'm also developing because I'm still young. I don't think I was a bad keeper when I got here. That's it, really.

"Maybe it's a bit more pressure [against Spartak], but I think in football you always have the pressure before every game. It's the same in the league - if we don't win this one or this one, you slip too far back. Maybe it's a final for Spartak and for us. We can also win something, we can finish top of the group. We just need to focus on the positive things.

"For the other team it will be way more difficult. They're coming to Anfield and they need the three points but we have our crowd and our stadium. There's always pressure, but nothing to be too nervous about. In the last game [against Sevilla] we were almost through. We didn't play well second half, but that's stuff you have to learn from."

Mignolet has started 13 of Liverpool's 14 Premier League games this term - the exception being August's 4-0 win over Arsenal.