Loris Karius: My head is right, I feel good
Loris Karius admits he found it 'difficult' waiting for his Premier League chance in the early stages of this season but believes the patience he showed is starting to pay off.
The German featured primarily in the Champions League in the first half of the campaign, with Simon Mignolet handed the responsibility of tending goal in the league.
However, having selected Karius for last month's top-flight meeting with Manchester City, manager Jürgen Klopp revealed his intention to give his compatriot a run of games.
He has since performed encouragingly, with a penalty save from Harry Kane in the Reds' last outing - a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur - a particular highlight.
Reflecting on his journey this term, Karius told the Liverpool Echo: “It was difficult in the first half of the season but I didn’t do too bad.
“I still had high quality games in the Champions League and I knew my chance would come in the Premier League.
“I went in and out of the team a bit but I showed the manager that when he needs me I’m there.
“Of course I was happy with the decision. You get more in a routine game by game but I know I need to keep performing.
“I’ve been working well on the training pitch. My head is right. I feel like I’ve learned a lot from last season and I feel good.”
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Karius went on to discuss the scrutiny that comes with keeping goal for a club the size of Liverpool, where any perceived mistake will be analysed in great detail.
“I think we’ve been a bit unlucky at times. Often you don’t have much to do,” he added
“Then if you don’t do something 100 per cent right it weighs a lot heavier than for other goalies at smaller clubs who have several more saves to make in a game. That’s life at a big club like Liverpool and you have to deal with it.
“I just want to present myself well and then I’ll have the chance to play at this club for the next season as well.
“That’s the challenge facing me personally. I also want to help this team achieve as much as we can.
“As well as the top four, we still have the Champions League. We want to go forward in that and why not win it? There are lots of big aims for the rest of the season.”