Tony Gale shared that he thought Loris Karius’ recent upturn in form could make a real difference to Liverpool in the second half of the season.
The 24-year-old goalkeeper has been gaining praise for his performances as of late, and Gale revealed that he believes that the goalkeeper could be the difference for the Reds if he continues to play well.
“I think he [Klopp] fancied him all along as his No 1 but then he made those mistakes and then had to leave him out and pull him out of the firing line,” stated Gale on Premier League Daily, as quoted by Sky Sports’ official website.
“This boy has got to get a little more confidence, which he’s getting at the moment, and then you’ll see the best out of him.
“Hopefully he’s the difference for Liverpool now, but he’s still got it all to prove.
“You have to do it over a period of time, let’s see what happens when he makes a mistake.”
Gale went on to suggest that Reds supporters and pundits should stop writing off the goalkeeper as he could still prove himself at Anfield, just like Manchester United’s David De Gea overcame a highly-criticised start to life in the Premier League.
“Let’s give this boy a chance and see if he can do it over a period of time because look at what we said about David De Gea,” said Gale.
The German goalkeeper has made 18 appearances this season, conceding 15 goals and keeping nine clean sheets.
OPINION
Karius being compared to De Gea shows how good his recent displays have been. As it’s certainly flattering that Gale believes Karius could end up being like one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League. However, Gale is right to point out that it’s far too early to deliver a verdict on him either way. Karius needs to consistently put in good performance for a significant amount of time in order to prove himself, and fans need to stay off his back to allow him to do this. If the 24-year-old was to make a mistake in the next few weeks, it’s easy to imagine that fans will be calling for his head once again.