30-year-old former Liverpool player has just made his first league start since leaving Anfield in 2022

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Not many players have left Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and gone on to be successes elsewhere.

Plenty have passed through Anfield since Klopp took the helm in 2015. For most of them, their stay on Merseyside saw them playing the best football of their careers.

Of all of those who have struggled post-Liverpool though, there aren’t many that have had a worse time than Loris Karius. Of course, the German’s difficulties began while he was still with the Reds. Karius never really recovered from his high-profile blunders in the 2018 Champions League final.

Prior to that, he had actually been a serviceable goalkeeper for Liverpool. He was no Alisson Becker, but he wasn’t bad. In the run up to the Champions League final six years ago, Karius played in the Reds’ final Premier League match of the 2017/18 season.

That was a 4-0 win over Brighton at Anfield on May 13th 2018. Little did he know it at the time, but Karius would have to wait almost six years for his next appearance in the competition.

Despite officially being on Liverpool’s books until 2022, the goalie never again featured for the Reds. Since joining Newcastle that same year, Karius also hasn’t played in the league. That changed tonight, when the former Mainz goalie started the Magpies’ game away at Arsenal. A big moment for Loris.

Karius back in action

It really has been a torrid few years for Karius. Although he’s managed a couple of loan spells in between, he hasn’t been the same player since 2018.

Now 30, the former Germany U21 stopper is hardly a veteran either. Should he want to, Karius could easily play for almost a decade longer.

At various points of the past six years it has looked like he might be about to get back on track.

But loan spells at first Besiktas and then Union Berlin didn’t go as planned. Following his time at Union especially, it had really felt like Karius was done.

Nevertheless, he got himself a move to Newcastle as third choice. A year ago, there was almost an unlikely redemption story when he was forced to start the Magpies’ Carabao Cup final with Manchester United.

In the end, Newcastle lost 2-0. Although Karius’ performance on the day suggested that he could still do a job between the sticks.

Up until this evening that had remained the ‘keepers only appearance for Newcastle. But with first choice Nick Pope out injured and Martin Dubravka taken ill, Karius stepped in.

Of course, the game could have title ramifications for Liverpool, who will be hoping the Toon can take something from Arsenal. Half an hour in though, and it’s not looking good. Beaten by a Sven Botman own goal after less than 20 minutes, Karius has since picked the ball out of his net once more besides. Still, good to see him back.