return to the Liverpool line-up after the embattled
goalkeeper was dropped for Wednesday's win over
Middlesbrough.
After some high-profile mistakes in Liverpool's
past two matches and widespread criticism, Karius
made way for Simon Mignolet as Klopp's men
eased to a 3-0 Premier League victory.
Karius cut a frustrated figure on the bench at the
Riverside, and while Klopp has not put a timeframe
on the German's return, the Liverpool manager has
maintained his belief in the 23-year-old.
"That's not how football works. I didn't tell him.
Now it is Simon's chance," Klopp responded when
asked on giving Karius a return date.
"I am really happy with our goalkeeper situation.
We have these two really, really good goalkeepers;
a very experienced Alex Manninger, who is a
wonderful person; three outstanding really young
goalkeepers.
"The goalkeeping situation at Liverpool is really
good so that's why I said there is no reason to
push one through, we want to develop the players.
We are fine with our boys.
"Loris is still very young, he is a big, big
goalkeeping talent and everything will be good in
the end but there is no timeframe for when he will
be back."
On Karius' reaction to being dropped, Klopp said:
"It's not that he immediately wanted a hug! It's a
normal decision and in football it is like this.
"When you are at the right club and you are not in
the best moment, you step aside for a moment,
train hard, improve, get back to your best shape
and then we will see what happens.
"It is absolutely all OK, but of course for a player in
the first moment it was not the best moment in
life."
Klopp, whose side climbed up to second in the
table following their emphatic display, added: "The
situation is LFC is a long-term project. We really
want to improve the club. We know we have to be
successful as soon as possible, but on the other
hand we all feel comfortable in the situation with
each other – the goalkeepers included.
"I know how strong Loris Karius is, but
unfortunately he couldn't show it in the last one,
two, three games – I'm not sure, that's not too
important. I am absolutely not interested in public
pressure, but I am interested in the boy and there is
no reason to push him through this situation.
"In the end, everything is one little mistake –
which can happen to each goalkeeper in the world.
So after one little mistake, should I say 'OK, that's
it, final judgement – I don't want to see him
anymore’? There's absolutely no reason, especially
when you have a goalkeeper like Simon Mignolet in
training, on the bench, in character, a great
footballer, a really, really good goalkeeper.
"He played really good at the beginning of the
season, so there is no reason push Loris through,
that's why we made this change quite early and
that’s all, nothing else. We are fine and good."
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