OPINION
Liverpool’s progress in the last few years under Jurgen Klopp is undeniable, despite what the naysayers may try and tell you.
Wednesday’s 5-0 drubbing of Porto is the only evidence you need to see the Reds’ development under Klopp.
Liverpool are now one of Europe’s most exciting attacking teams, with their front three so destructive, and they rarely let teams off the hook.
The side have even shown some promising progress defensively in recent weeks, with the arrival of Virgil van Dijk on a world-record fee paying dividends.
However, there remains one clear problem for the Reds, and it is an issue that has been lurking for a long while.
That problem is their goalkeeper.
Simon Mignolet has not been up to scratch ever since he joined the club in 2013, with his propensity to commit errors never seeming to fade away.
The Belgian’s time between the sticks for Liverpool looked over when they brought in promising young German stopper Loris Karius for £4.7million from Mainz in the summer of 2016, but things unfortunately have not turned out that way.
In his first season Karius displayed a similar knack for mistakes as his counterpart, and Mignolet ended up remaining as the club’s number one for the season.
That looked like it would continue into this campaign, with the Belgian retaining the starting spot for Premier League games, and Karius playing in cup competitions.
However, the young German has now usurped Mignolet with some decent performances, and looks to have established himself as the club’s number one for good.
As reported by The Times, Liverpool are set to end their pursuit of Roma goalkeeper Alisson, with Klopp growing in confidence that Karius can do a job for them between the sticks.
But unfortunately, that looks to be a grave mistake from the club.
There is no denying that Karius has shown great improvement in recent months. The German has kept three clean sheets in his last four games, and the number of dodgy moments per match seems to have decreased.
But is that enough evidence to suggest he is up to the task of being the club’s long-term number one?
Liverpool are a club who are on the up. A club trying to win some elusive silverware and announce their return to the big time. A club who are looking to finally reaffirm their status as one of Europe’s elite clubs.
A club like that needs a goalkeeper they can rely upon again and again to deliver.
Karius is not that man.
Someone like Alisson could be, and the club must chase a more reliable stopper this summer.
If they don’t then they will be at a disadvantage at the hotly-contested top-end of the Premier League.
Manchester City have Ederson, Manchester United have David De Gea, Chelsea have Thibault Courtois, Tottenham have Hugo Lloris, and Arsenal have Petr Cech. All solid ‘keepers who will rarely make mistakes.
Small margins make the difference at this level, and an unreliable goalkeeper is more than a small margin.
Liverpool must be ruthless this summer and search for that key stopper, or their hopes of staying at the top could be dashed once again.