Loris Karius could be the difference for Liverpool with new-found form, says Tony Gale
Tuesday 6 March 2018 13:06, UK
Loris Karius' upturn in form could make a real difference for Liverpool, but the goalkeeper still has much to prove believes Tony Gale.
Much has been made of the goalkeeping situation on the red half of Merseyside this campaign, with both Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet receiving criticism for some high-profile errors.
However, a string of fine performances from Karius since being given a run as Jurgen Klopp's No 1 in recent weeks has seen such debate die down.
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"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," Gale told Premier League Daily.
"What I did like about him, though, was when he was asked to be interviewed when he was having a bad time, he came out and did it. He got criticised for that and people said he should be shutting his mouth at this time because he isn't playing too well, but it's the way he's been brought up that he came out and did the interview.
"I think 'keepers have to have that kind of confidence. 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."
As happened initially with the signing of David de Gea, Gale also believes fans and pundits may be rushing to write off the youngster prematurely.
"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," Gayle said.
"He got absolutely slaughtered when he came to this country - 'he's weak, he's not got this, he's not got that' - let's give them a chance. The managers have to see it in training and in their personalities and strength of character of whether they think they can do it."
