Liverpool are set to hand Loris Karius an unlikely career lifeline after Newcastle keeper Nick Pope was sent off against the Reds on Saturday.
Karius spent six years at Anfield, though he did not feature for Jurgen Klopp's men after the 2018 Champions League final. He finally left on a free transfer for Newcastle in last summer's transfer window, though is still yet to make his debut.
Extraordinarily though his debut could now come in the Carabao Cup final, following Pope's red card against Karius' former club. The Reds travelled to St James' Park to take on Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
The visitors were two goals up when Alisson sent a long ball forward which Pope came out of his box to try to deal with. But in doing so, he deliberately handled the ball and was shown a straight red card by referee Anthony Taylor.
That sending off means that Pope, Newcastle's number one, is now suspended for the cup final. Incredibly, his primary back-up Martin Dubravka is also ruled out of the game, having already featured in the competition for Manchester United.
According to part 6.4 of the Carabao Cup's rules, "no Registered Player shall play for more than one Club in the Competition in any one Season". Dubravka played in both the third-round win over Aston Villa and the fourth-round win over Burnley for United.
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With both Pope and Dubravka ruled out, Karius would appear to be the next man up at goalkeeper. He will be battling Mark Gillespie for the starting spot but has more top-level experience than the Englishman.
Karius' last competitive appearance came two years ago, in a 1-1 draw between Union Berlin and Hoffenheim in February 2021. He is yet to play for the Magpies, though has been on the bench for eight games in all competitions this term.
Now though, he is in line to feature in a cup final, with it also set to be his first game for an English club since the ill-fated Champions League final five years ago. Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was left stunned by Pope's decision to come out and commit the action that got him sent off.
"I mean wow. It comes from one goalkeeper and ends with another. That all comes from Alisson and the run from Mo Salah, when he sees him coming he’s just done something. That is an absolute nightmare for Newcastle," he said in commentary for Sky Sports.
"Going to be a nightmare for this game as well, in maybe being a contest. Just a moment of madness. You feel for the lad, he’s been absolutely fantastic for Newcastle. You just see he gets involved, diving, and just that moment it hits his hand there.
"Boy, will he regret that. I mean there’s no doubt about the decision, when he’s kicking it away he knows. Look, you can see it on his face. I must say, I am gutted for the lad. It is the right decision, it happens, but I’m absolutely gutted for him.
"Seeing him coming in today he’s been a huge part of this renaissance at Newcastle, he’s been performing as well as any goalkeeper in this division, and we all know how big next week is for Newcastle. To have one of your best players missing, but listen, it’s football, it happens."
