Jurgen Klopp: 'I almost abandoned Alisson Becker pursuit'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 20 August 2018

Jurgen Klopp insists that Loris Karius's high-profile errors against Real Madrid were not the catalyst for change, and he strongly considered sticking with the German.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed that he considered pulling out of a deal for Alisson Becker due to the criticism aimed at Loris Karius.

The Reds spent £67m to sign the Brazil international from Roma in July, two months on from Karius's howlers in the Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid.

Klopp is adamant that Karius's display in Kiev was not the catalyst for change, however, and he nearly stuck with his German compatriot as a way of proving a point.

"We simply identified another keeper, who is better, and signed him," he told Kicker. "I didn't tell Karius what he wanted to hear, but how it is. The Champions League final had nothing to do with us getting Alisson.

"Even if he had won it and Alisson would have been on the market we would have still signed him. How the people reacted negatively to Karius after the final, tried to isolate him, almost made me not get Alisson and rather stick it out with Karius.

"But we had to be professional. Our job is to have the best players on every position. [Karius] is now 25, at an age, in which keepers keep improving. All the best keepers make mistakes.

"But sometimes timing is important in life. If Loris makes a mistake now it isn't cool. In eight years nobody will care. We are totally happy with him."

Liverpool are said to be open to offers for Karius, who has previously been linked with Besiktas.