The 2018 UEFA Champions League final was a tough one for Liverpool, and especially for Loris Karius. The Reds, under Jurgen Klopp, had a great run but found themselves up against a Real Madrid side looking for a historic three-peat under Zinedine Zidane.
Liverpool eventually lost 3-1 in Kyiv, with Gareth Bale scoring a brace and Karim Benzema adding another. Sadio Mane’s goal was just a consolation in a game that will be remembered for more than just the result.
Karius had a night to forget, making two key errors that led to goals. In hindsight, Gary Neville, who had been critical of Karius before the final, now regrets some of his harsh comments.
“I had been quite direct about him for a period of two or three months,” Neville admitted on The Overlap. “Liverpool were getting better under Klopp, and I said they would never win the league with that guy in goal.”
It was a bold and harsh statement to make about a young goalkeeper. And while it may have seemed true after Karius’ mistakes in the final, Neville now reflects on the impact of his words.
“I remember meeting Karius months later in Italy. He was in the gym, lifting weights. I thought it was him, and I was expecting some sort of confrontation. But he just shook my hand and said, ‘It’s nice to see you.’ It made me feel guilty.”
As for Karius, his journey after that infamous night in Kyiv hasn’t been easy. Despite earning a solid reputation at Mainz, his time at Liverpool was marked by mistakes and inconsistency. Karius and Simon Mignolet shared goalkeeping duties that season, a decision that raised eyebrows.
After Liverpool signed Alisson Becker in 2018, Karius’ time at the club came to an end. He’s since had spells at Besiktas, Union Berlin, and Newcastle United. Now 31 and a free agent, Karius has been open about the possibility of retirement.
“If you’ve been out as long as I have, you have to consider retirement,” Karius said in an interview with SPORTbible. “I haven’t made a decision yet because there’s no need to. I’m still fit and have potential.”
