Jurgen Klopp has backed Loris Karius to atone for his Champions League nightmare in the Carabao Cup final because that is what the Newcastle United goalkeeper has been 'working for'.
Karius looks set to make his first competitive start in two years at Wembley after Nick Pope was sent off in Newcastle's 2-0 defeat against Liverpool at St James' Park on Saturday. Pope's suspension has left Newcastle short of options because Martin Dubravka is cup-tied after playing for fellow finalists Manchester United earlier in the competition while the Magpies are unable to recall Karl Darlow from his loan spell at Hull City.
Karius, as a result, will step up in the goalkeeper's biggest game since the 2018 Champions League final, which proved to be a turning point in the German's career for all the wrong reasons. Karius, of course, left the field in tears that night after being at fault for Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale's goals in Real Madrid's 3-1 win against Liverpool.
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Although it was later established that Karius suffered a concussion during the game, the 29-year-old never played a competitive game for Liverpool again and was loaned out by Klopp to Besiktas and Union Berlin before eventually joining Newcastle as a free agent back in September.
Karius had only been brought in as cover, but Klopp has no doubt that Newcastle can 'rely' on a 'great goalie'. In fact, when asked if this was an opportunity for Karius to put that night in Kiev behind him, once and for all, Klopp was unequivocal with his response.
"Absolutely," the Liverpool boss told reporters. "That's what he was working for. Definitely. All the time. So absolutely."
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