Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius has emerged as the first-choice keeper under manager Jürgen Klopp but there have been situations when he has looked very vulnerable, especially in set pieces. Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg has been trying to acclimatise him with some unique techniques in the training with the help of Rugby training pads.
Simon Mignolet was made to sit out on the bench as Klopp has been deploying the German keeper in the goal. The keeper was signed from Mainz in this summer but struggling to adapt to the pace of the Premier League. There have been a couple of occasions when he looked shaky especially against Manchester United and Crystal Palace.
Klopp said, “John usually does it (pushes the keepers) with his hands. Of course, that’s important. It is different things you have to do as a coach.”
Premier League is regarded as one of the toughest Leagues in the world in terms of pace and strength. Simon Mignolet had the same problem when he arrived at Liverpool from Sunderland. Klopp admits that the 23-year-old keeper has to learn the proper techniques to deal with the aerial balls, “First [he] has to learn the technique, then you have to adapt to the real circumstances – six, seven players around him.
“No one gets out of your way. That’s [how it is] for goalkeepers in the Premier League.”
