Karius set for Champions League redemption five years after Liverpool nightmare

13 December 2023 , 08:00

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Karius set for Champions League redemption five years after Liverpool nightmare

Loris Karius is on standby to play his first Champions League game since his blunders cost Liverpool the final in 2018.

Newcastle's third-choice goalkeeper is in line for a call up because Martin Dubravka has a shoulder problem and England's Nick Pope had an operation last week. The 30-year-old German is next in line and Newcastle are looking at bringing in a new keeper on a temporary deal in January, with David De Gea and Aaron Ramsdale being eyed.

But Karius could go under the spotlight after two mistakes against Real Madrid in the final five years ago amid claims he was concussed during the game. He left Liverpool that summer and played two seasons in the Europa League with Besiktas.

Newcastle must beat AC Milan at St James' Park and hope Paris Saint-Germain fail to do the same against Borussia Dortmund in Germany to reach the last 16 of the Champions League. A draw against Milan would see the Magpies drop into the Europa League, while a defeat would knock them out of Europe altogether.

Eddie Howe was asked if Dubravka, who didn’t train on Tuesday, was fit during his pre-match press conference. The Newcastle boss replied: "That is slightly unclear."

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And Callum Wilson was asked if Karius would be ready for the game. He said: "All of our goalkeepers really, even Mark Gillespie, people you don’t see as much of, they’re all top goalkeepers. They will give you a run for your money in training during finishing practice. Whoever is between the sticks, I’m sure they’ll be more than capable."

Yet Newcastle's injury crisis is causing Howe some concern. He added: "Keeper is not a position I want to rotate. I want a settled keeper and back four for my defensive structure."

Karius hasn't played in the Champions League since his nightmare for Liverpool in the final five years ago (Getty Images)

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Karius has struggled for minutes since the 2018 Champions League final. Although he remained on Liverpool's books for another four years, he never played for the club again and spent two years on loan at Besiktas, where he played 67 games for the Turkish side.

He then joined Union Berlin but only featured five times for the German outfit before returning to Merseyside. The goalkeeper didn't play a senior game during his final season at Liverpool and was a free agent as the 2022/23 campaign got underway.

Yet Newcastle handed him a contract in September 2022 before he made his debut in the Carabao Cup final. Pope was suspended against Manchester United, while Dubravka was cup-tied. Newcastle lost 2-0, with Karius turning in a creditable performance.

Simon Bird