Jurgen Klopp has now lost three different finals as a Liverpool manager and though he has individual errors to blame on, he has to now make sure that such issues do not hold back the club from winning their first silverware under the German gaffer.
The Reds have been busy this transfer window, looking to add quality to various roles in the squad but the loss in Kyiv to Real Madrid will urge Klopp to replace Loris Karius in goal.
The German shot-stopper seemed to have settled down at Anfield after his performances in the second half of the previous season but two school-boy errors in the biggest club game of the season, saw him turn into an instant villain at the club. He may yet have an impressive future ahead of him but Liverpool are now convinced that they need an upgrade on him, if they are to challenge for silverware next season.
This has seen the club linked with a host of shot-stoppers and the latest name on their radar is Nick Pope.
Statistically one of the best keepers in the league last season, Pope has managed to break into the English national side after replacing Tom Heaton on goal for Burnley. Heaton picked up an injury that gave Pope a chance to impress and the 26-year old took his chance and never allowed Heaton to get a sniff of the first team.
He showed great consistency under the bar, dominating his box and actively reaching out for crosses and frustrating the opponents. He has a knack for saving shots from close range and has hardly shown any weaknesses, making him a decent find for Liverpool. He is also pro-active like Karius and is happy to play as a sweeper-keeper and fits into Klopp’s system pretty well.
However, he has seen three yellow cards last season, which is not ideal for a goalkeeper. He has also made just 35 league appearances in England and is not yet an established star and is an investment with loads of risk for the Reds.
Reports suggest that Klopp is ready to make a £15m bid for his services and at that price, he is an absolute steal. The Reds are also looking at Stoke City’s Jack Butland and Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak while AS Roma’s Alisson Becker remains at the top of the wish list.
Pope is not as established as any of those names but will cost only a portion of what they will. So Klopp might be tempted to sign him as a replacement for Simon Mignolet, who has lost his place in the first team and is expected to quit the club this summer in search of first-team action.
Read More: Liverpool Inch Closer To Signing Relegated Stoke City Dazzler: Where Does He Fit In At Anfield?
So Pope, at his price is certainly a signing Liverpool can make. But if he is the only GK addition they make to their squad, it does not really make them any stronger from the previous season. Do you think Pope is the answer to the woes at the back for Liverpool?
