Shay Given heaped praise on Liverpool’s Loris Karius and shared that he thought the goalkeeper had stepped up to the plate in recent weeks.
The former Premier League star appeared on Sky Sports News on Tuesday to assess the Reds’ goalkeeper and Manchester City’s keeper Ederson ahead of the two teams playing each other in the Champions League quarter-finals.
“Some of the saves he’s (Karius) produced in recent weeks, I think he’s stepped up to the plate,” stated Given on Sky Sports, as quoted by the broadcaster’s website.
“In these two games he will get tested for sure with that attacking force Manchester City have; there will be big moments where he will have to step up again but there’s no reason why he can’t do that, he’s shown in recent weeks that he’s a very good goalkeeper.
“People will say do they still need a goalkeeper in the summer, and maybe the jury’s still out, but these saves and the belief he’s getting from them, he might be good enough to bring them to the next level.”
Given then revealed what he believes had enabled the 24-year-old to improve in recent games, and praised Jurgen Klopp’s management of the goalkeeper.
“It’s difficult as a goalkeeper to have confidence unless you have to have the belief of your managers, we all make mistakes,” admitted the former Newcastle United keeper.
“Last year when he was making a mistake he was getting dropped, now the manager has said you’re going to play, probably until the end of the season.
“Then you get the freedom to go and enjoy yourself, with the confidence and belief of your manager, which I think Jurgen Klopp has given him.”
Karius has played 22 times this season for the Reds, conceding 18 goals, while keeping 11 clean sheets.
OPINION
Given knows a thing or two about being a top-class Premier League goalkeeper and Karius should be flattered by his praise. The Reds 24-year-old may have made an error against Crystal Palace in his side’s last league outing, by clumsily giving away a penalty but there’s no denying that he has improved. Karius is destined to have a bright future at Anfield if he continues developing the way he is, and it will be interesting if the club show faith in him during the summer window. If Klopp opts to not bring in a new goalkeeper to be his first-choice, then it will show that the club believe in the 24-year-old.