Liverpool will face an uphill battle to win the Premier League title with Loris Karius between the sticks, according to former Manchester United defender Gary Neville.
Jurgen Klopp’s new No.1 ‘transmits anxiety’ according to the Sky Sports pundit who blasted the German shot stopper after his blunders in the 4-3 defeat at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday.
Karius‘ mistakes allowed Nathan Ake to score an injury-time winner for the Cherries after Liverpool twice threw away a two goal lead.
Neville told Sky Sports: “[Karius] isn’t good enough. Now he might get better in the next 12-18 months, but you watch Courtois yesterday, he is good enough.
“That presence to catch the ball that comes into the six-yard box, kick the ball that comes to you, to do the simple things well.
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"Goalkeepers can transmit anxiety all around the ground, and all through a team. The likes of Karius, that's what they do - they're good at it, they're good at transmitting anxiety.
"They just basically do things that unsettle everybody. The crowd start to get a little panicky, whereas Courtois and De Gea now, and [Edwin] Van der Sar, those types of goalkeepers, you trust them, they're reliable."
"Those are the types of goalkeepers who you do win leagues with, but the challenge for Liverpool is the defence - always has been for the last few years - but also now the goalkeeper as well."
The Liverpool manager leapt to the defence of Karius, who signed for the club for £4.7million from Mainz last summer.
In his post match interview Klopp said: “I have no concerns [with Karius]. If you make mistakes, you get criticised. That’s what happens in life, so I have no problem with that. So if people want to say we’re blind, silly, not good enough, then do it.
"We missed chances today but do we have good strikers? Yes we do. And the last goal was not easy for a goalkeeper. It says nothing about him as a goalkeeper. It happens."
Liverpool, who have inevitably dented their title hopes, host struggling West Ham at Anfield on Sunday and travel to Middlesbrough three days later.
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