Jürgen Klopp has confirmed Loris Karius has no future at Liverpool and his former first-choice goalkeeper is free to leave the club.
The 28-year-old has not featured for Liverpool since his infamous appearance in the 2018 Champions League final and subsequent loan spells at Besiktas and Union Berlin failed to result in a permanent transfer. His last competitive outing was for the German club 11 months ago.
Karius is out of contract at the end of this season and Klopp, who did not consider the former Mainz keeper for selection when Alisson, Caoimhin Kelleher and Adrián were unavailable through Covid or injury, is open to an early exit.
The Liverpool manager said: “There are different things [to consider]. One is Loris Karius the player, who is doing absolutely nothing wrong and he is a really good shape. He is training really hard and he is fully committed. That is clear. Before the season we made a decision and obviously it was in the club’s interest as well that Loris finds a new club but that didn’t happen. We made a decision that he will be treated completely normally.
“As long as we don’t have a massive situation here our No 1 is Ali, our No 2 is Caoimhin, No 3 is Adrián and No 4 is Marcelo [Pitaluga]. That is already four goalkeepers and we were never in a situation where we had to use a fifth one. It is nothing to do with the quality; we made the decision and the boys do really well.
“I think everyone is impressed by the development of Caoimhin Kelleher, who is ready for pretty much everything. We all know about the quality of Adrián and the impact he has on training and in the dressing room and he would be always ready to go. Marcelo is an incredible talent, so the next one in line. I wish Loris only the best and he will find a club whether it is now or in the summer and from there he will go on, I’m very sure.”
Harvey Elliott is set to return to first-team training next week as he steps up his recovery from a dislocated ankle. The 18-year-old midfielder sustained the injury at Leeds four months ago.