Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius says it isn’t easy to compete with Simon Mignolet for a starting berth.
The German ‘keeper is currently the first-choice between the sticks for the Reds’, having this season deposed the Belgian former No.1.
Since signing in the summer of 2016, Karius has struggled to consistently turn in strong performances, and while he is enjoying a successful spell at the moment, it hasn’t always been easy to stave off Mignolet.
Talking about his battles to keep his place against his teammate, Karius spoke to Sky Sports, saying;
It wasn’t easy. I knew after the first season where I had an injury, then went back in and played a few games, went back out and then Simon did well and the team qualified for the Champions League, I knew there was a possibility that in the beginning [of the next season], he would start again in the league.
I just worked hard in training and then the games I had, I tried my best because you can only look at yourself and try to perform well. It’s not easy for a goalkeeper to come in and out, but that was the situation and you have to take it as it is really.
It is difficult to say what changed about yourself but I feel good, I’ve been playing quite well so I want to keep it up and do even better. I know I can improve on pretty much everything, I’m 24 now so there is a lot of space for improvement.
But the life of a goalkeeper is that you always get criticised when you have a bad day so you just have to get used to it and of course, at a club like this, it was more than I was used to so maybe that was the biggest thing.
Liverpool are the second club in England that Karius has been with, with the 24-year old having spent two years in Manchester City’s academy from the age of 16, never making a first-team appearance. Karius spoke about his decision to leave the Cityzens, saying;
I played for the U18s and the reserves and was training every day with the first team really, with Joe Hart who was a great guy and helped me a lot back then. He was a great role model and I don’t really regret anything.
“But then I made a decision that I wanted to play first-team football regularly, and it was quite difficult for a young player, especially as a goalkeeper, so I thought I’d have to take a little step back to a smaller club. As long as I saw the chance to play there and progress as a young player and then hopefully move onto a bigger club in the future. That’s what happened so it worked out well.
