OPINION
If there is one area in which Liverpool have really struggled in recent years, it is at the back.
More specifically, the Reds have struggled with their goalkeeper.
For the past four seasons or so, their number one has been Belgium international Simon Mignolet, who joined the club for £9million from Sunderland.
While Mignolet is undoubtedly a solid goalkeeper, the 30-year-old has always been prone to mistakes and poor displays.
Quite frankly, Mignolet is not good enough for Liverpool, and it has taken the club five years to realise that or do anything about it.
Young German stopper Loris Karius, bought in the summer of 2016 for £4million from Mainz, looked like he may be the solution, but he has taken ages to get going.
Karius has indeed taken over from Mignolet as the club’s number one, and does look in impressive form for the Reds.
As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Karius’ form has led Jurgen Klopp to abandon his search for a new goalkeeper.
Liverpool have reportedly contacted Serie A side Roma and said that they should not expect a bid for Alisson, and are also said to be uninterested in a move for Stoke stopper Jack Butland.
If this report is true, then Klopp is about to make the worst mistake of his Liverpool career so far.
There is no doubt that Karius has shown brilliant improvement in recent weeks.
The German stopper has pulled off some breathtaking stops, and the club have begun to keep clean sheets on a regular basis, which is something they have not done for a while.
However, there is a difference between a goalkeeper that can do that on occasion and one that does so week in week out.
Karius is yet to show that he is a goalkeeper in the latter category.
And, if Liverpool want to be a side that win trophies regularly, then they will need a goalkeeper who guarantees them solidity at the back for full seasons.
Karius is not that man.
Roma goalkeeper Alisson is the kind of stopper that they need at the club, so to abandon the hunt for him looks to be a grave mistake.
Butland also looks like he will be that kind of goalkeeper soon enough, and a move for him would also make sense.
This is not to totally write Karius off. The German is still just 24 years old, and therefore has years of development ahead of him.
But, if Liverpool want to win silverware any time soon, then they cannot wait for him to become that player.
There is still plenty of time for Klopp to reverse his decision before the summer, and Liverpool fans should hope that he does.
There is no time for sentiment in the search for silverware, and replacing Karius must be a priority.