Players - Loris Karius

Loris Karius
Birthdate: 22 June 1993
Birthplace: Biberach an der Riss, Germany
Other clubs: Stuttgart (2005-09), Manchester City 2009-11), Mainz 05 (2011-16), Besiktas (loan 2018-20), Union Berlin (loan 2020-21), Newcastle United (2022-)
Signed from: Mainz 05
Signed for LFC: £4.7m, 01.07.2016
International debut: Germany u-21 - 1 cap
Liverpool debut: 20.09.2016
Last appearance: 26.05.2018
Contract expiry: 30.06.2022
Win ratio: 55.1% W:27 D:13 L:9
League games / goals / assists: 29 / 0 / 0
Total games / goals / assists: 49 / 0 / 0
League clean sheets: 13
Total clean sheets: 22

Player Profile

Loris Karius was with Stuttgart's academy before joining Manchester City in 2009, his ex club's youth coordinator describing the money involved as 'well out of proportion'.  He didn't make a first team appearance for City and was loaned to Mainz in 2011, the move becoming permanent in January 2012. He started out with Mainz II in the regional leagues, but in 2013/14 established himself as the club's first choice keeper in the Bundesliga. He was an ever present in 2015-16 and was signed by Liverpool to provide top class competition to Simon Mignolet.

Karius has represented Germany at all levels up to U-21 and was given an early opportunity to impress in pre-season when Mignolet was given an extended break due to Belgium's involvement in the European Championships. Karius looked destined to start the season as number one choice but suffered an early blow to his Liverpool career when he broke his hand in a friendly with Chelsea in Pasadena on 27 July and was estimated to be out for ten weeks but returned only in six to be on the bench for the visit of league champions Leicester City on 10 September. His first appearance was on 20 September away to Derby in the League Cup and he kept his place for the next Premiership game at home to Hull. He played ten successive Premier League games but after mistakes cost Liverpool points against Bournemouth and West Ham he was back o the bench. For the rest of the season he had to make do with playing in just the FA Cup and League Cup.

Prior to 2017/18 Klopp said that all three goalkeepers had a chance to vie for the number one jersey in pre season, but when the kickoff came Karius was second choice, behind Simon Mignolet but ahead of Danny Ward. Initially Klopp rotated his keepers with Karius appearing in the Champions League games. However for the second half of the season Karius became the undisputed first choice. He put in some sound performances but was unable to convince many fans and pundits he had the quality to be a keeper a club with such big ambition.

After a disastrous display in the Champions League final when he gifted Real Madrid two goals, his Liverpool future was in serious doubt. Karius was publicly backed by Klopp but in pre-season he was shaky, making mistakes against Tranmere and Borussia Dortmund. By the second of these Alisson had arrived and soon Karius was on his way to Turkish side Besiktas. The Reds have agreed an initial two-year loan with Besiktas paying a loan fee of £2.25million. Besiktas are obligated to buy the German shot-stopper for a further £7.25million in 2020 related to number of appearances and if the club qualifies for Europe.

During his first season in Turkey, Karius endured a shaky start but picked up in confidence. during in the second half, helping the club to a third place finish. His second year was cut short when the league was suspended due to the Covid 19 pandemic and he opted to terminate the contract rather than wait for the league to resume. Karius went on a season-long loan at Union Berlin in his native Germany for the 2020/21 season, but was used as back up and appeared just four times in the Bundesliga. A shoulder injury scuppered any chances of moving on during the summer transfer window, with Karius focusing on his rehabilitation and hoping to move on in January 2022. That didn't happen and he remained at Liverpool with it being confirmed in June 2022 he would be released. The following September he signed a short term deal with Newcastle United to provide back up cover.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 29 4 3 13 0 49
2016-2017 10 3 3 0 0 16
2017-2018 19 1 0 13 0 33
2018-2019 0 0 0 0 0 0
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
4 360 Southampton
3 270 Manchester City
3 270 WBA
2 180 Manchester United
2 180 Roma
2 180 Spartak Moscow
2 180 Porto
2 180 Sevilla
2 180 NK Maribor
2 180 West Ham United
2 180 Everton
2 180 Watford
2 180 Bournemouth
2 180 Crystal Palace
2 180 Plymouth Argyle
2 180 Swansea City
1 90 Brighton & Hove Albion
1 90 Stoke City
1 90 Sunderland
1 90 Huddersfield Town
1 90 Newcastle United
1 90 Chelsea
1 90 Hull City
1 90 Derby
1 90 Real Madrid
1 90 Wolves
1 90 Leicester City
1 90 Arsenal
1 90 Tottenham
Total Started/substitutions
49 Started
50 On the bench
0 Substitute
0 Substituted
Total Venue
27 Home
21 Away
1 Neutral
Total Competition
29 Premier League
13 Champions League
4 FA Cup
3 League Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
49 27 13 9 55.1% Jürgen Klopp
Clean sheets per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 13 2 1 6 0 22
2016-2017 3 2 1 0 0 6
2017-2018 10 0 0 6 0 16
2018-2019 0 0 0 0 0 0
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 20.09.2016 Derby Pride Park League Cup
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Mainz 05 II 2011-2012 Germany 4 19 0 19 0
Mainz 05 II 2012-2013 Germany 4 6 0 6 0
Mainz 05 2012-2013 Germany 1 1 0 1 0
Mainz 05 II 2013-2014 Germany 4 3 0 3 0
Mainz 05 2013-2014 Germany 1 23 0 23 0
Mainz 05 2014-2015 Germany 1 33 0 36 0
Mainz 05 2015-2016 Germany 1 34 0 36 0
Besiktas 2018-2019 Turkey 1 30 0 35 0
Besiktas 2019-2020 Turkey 1 25 0 32 0
Union Berlin 2020-2021 Germany 1 4 0 5 0
Total 178 0 196 0