Analysing how Loris Karius cost Liverpool three points at Bournemouth

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For much of the first half at Dean Court, Liverpool were coasting to victory and looked completely untroubled. It is no coincidence that this spell coincided with 45 minutes where Bournemouth managed just one shot, which was blocked on the edge of the box. When Loris Karius was tested in goal in the second half, he conceded four goals, with at least one down to his individual error.

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It may seem harsh to blame the 23-year-old, who hilariously conceded a corner from his own goal-kick last weekend, but there is no arguing that he cost Liverpool at least one point on Sunday afternoon. In the third minute of injury time, with a shot fired straight at him in goal, he somehow fumbled straight into the path of Nathan Ake who duly prodded home to make it 4-3.

Before that, Karius was far from blameless. Ryan Fraser really made it game on again with Bournemouth’s second to make the score 3-2 with a shot from distance, where Karius would really be expected to do better. Seemingly going past his hands a second before he got there, the shot was fairly central.

Then, Steve Cook equalised after Karius continued his biggest weakness since replacing Simon Mignolet as Jurgen Klopp’s first choice – flapping at a cross. The long throw into the box terrified the former Manchester City goalkeeper and it ended with the ball in the back of the net and Karius looking lost in his own six yard box.

Even with Callum Wilson’s penalty, the harshest of critics could question why he did not opt to go the same way as Wilson’s only other penalty this season, which was almost identical against Arsenal.

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There’s no doubting that the German has potential, but with Simon Mignolet watching on from the bench there will be increasing pressure on Jurgen Klopp to take his younger goalkeeper out of the firing line until he is ready for the Premier League. Such a disastrous display could not have come at a worse time, following Karius’ second and third clean sheets of the season in consecutive games, but is unlikely to affect Klopp’s thoughts on his number one.

Featured Image: All rights reserved by Anfield BR.