Jurgen Klopp wanted to spend the first day of Liverpool’s preseason assessing the mental state of goalkeeper Loris Karius.
According to a report in the Times, Klopp made it one of his priorities to carefully monitor Karius on Monday and decide whether the German ‘keeper had overcome the nightmare he endured during May’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid.
Karius made two horrific errors in Kiev as Real Madrid ran out 3-1 winners, claiming their third consecutive Champions League trophy.
The Reds stopper hadn’t posted to social media since the day after the game as he came to terms with his performance during his break from club action.
But Karius was back on Instagram and Twitter on Monday afternoon with a smile on his face and the reaction of Liverpool supporters will certainly make him feel an awful lot better about himself.
Back at Melwood 👊🏼🔴#LK1 #YNWA #LFC pic.twitter.com/qotiOfysxt
— Loris Karius (@LorisKarius) July 2, 2018
Come on Karius!!! YNWA ❤️
— SANDER (@SanderDTT) July 2, 2018
Good to see you back smiling lad good luck to the season ahead
— Agent Firmino (@Tyrion_The_Wise) July 2, 2018
Karius mate goodluck with the preseason
— Third Stripe (@_wasteman__) July 2, 2018
YNWA, dude! Wishing you all the best this season.
— I am Quäid (@alexcohen912) July 2, 2018
Welcome back, my keeper! ♥ we’re in this together!!! Keep the head up, lad! we love you!
— Anfield Brasil (@Anfieldbr) July 2, 2018
Good to see you smiling. Keep that head up.
— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) July 2, 2018
Glad to see you smiling mate
— Dre Emerson (@Lfc___Latest) July 2, 2018
Good to have you back man. #ynwa
— wojk (@_JwK14) July 2, 2018
you will never walk alone my dearrrrr
— ?? Scout Finch ?? (@btlydn_) July 2, 2018
Scans following the Champions League final revealed that Karius had suffered a concussion prior to his pair of mistakes.
The German stopper was floored in a collision with Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos shortly after half-time and, moments later, conceded the first goal of the game when he threw the ball against Karim Benzema and it rebounded into the back of the net.
Karius was also at fault for Real’s third goal of the game, as he failed to deal with a long-range strike from Gareth Bale that should have been caught comfortably.
Liverpool have been linked with a move for a new goalkeeper this summer, with Roma’s Alisson Becker believed to be Klopp’s top target but that pursuit has lost momentum in recent weeks and it’s reported that Karius could be handed a lifeline and remain the club’s No 1 next season.