Liverpool are one of the many Premier League clubs that will go into the new season as a different outfit from the previous one. The Reds have changed quite a few personnel in the squad with the likes of Joel Matip, Marko Grujic, Georginio Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane all fighting for a place in the first team. But one player who should have started for Liverpool in the first game of the season against Arsenal, is now absent, giving Liverpool plenty to think about ahead of the start of the next season.
Summer signing Loris Karius picked up an injury in the pre-season game against Chelsea and was not a part of the squad that played against AC Milan. It is understood that the former Bundesliga goalkeeper crashed his hand into Dejan Lovren’s head during the Chelsea game and broke his hand. It was revealed that he needed a surgery in the upcoming days which will see him stay out of action for at least 10 weeks. This will come as a huge blow for Liverpool who are once again back with Simon Mignolet in goal.
For Liverpool fans, the very statement that the Belgian will start in front of the goal next season is frustrating them to great heights. Mignolet, who was one of the best goal-keepers in the 2014-15 season, in terms of numbers, was one of the worst in the previous season. Though his clean sheets and goals conceded is not the worst (in terms of numbers), he has cost the team more points than he won them in the entire season.
The Belgian has often been criticized for the lack of handling abilities and his weakness in the air. He is an excellent shot-stopper, may be one of the best in the league and is also a decent footballer. But every now and then he produces a moment of stupidity that makes Liverpool fans tear their hair. He has in the past shown that he has to work on his kicking when not under pressure, an attribute that will go a long way in helping his team keep hold of the ball. He made so many mistakes in the previous season that led to goals that Jürgen Klopp decided that he cannot be the team’s first-choice goalkeeper going into the next season. So he decided to get his hands on the 2nd best goalkeeper in the Bundesliga as awarded by the players in Loris Karius.
The German was supposed to take Mignolet’s spot in the team next season and it was supposed to be a fresh approach to the entire season with a completely different goalkeeper guarding the sticks. The very purchase of Karius made every Liverpool fan excited as they were not going to see the shambles of Mignolet every game next season but it now looks like the Belgian has cursed his way back into the starting XI at least for the first two months and may spoil the co-ordination of the entire team. He may once again come into the team and add anxiety to the back four which will produce mistakes that can hurt the club in the long run next season. So Karius’ loss is a big blow for Klopp, who will be disappointed to have lost him even before the start of the season.
