Karius' Liverpool career may not be over according to Jerzy Dudek

Loris Karius could still have a role to play at Liverpool according to former Reds' shot-stopper Jerzy Dudek.

In the week that Liverpool celebrated 15 years since winning their fifth Champions League crown, the Polish goalkeeper explained why he thinks Karius' story with the Reds may not be over.

Dudek is quoted in the Liverpool Echo as saying that Karius can still make a valuable contribution at Anfield.

"I had been to Kiev and when you speak about him [in that final], I feel a little bit sorry for him because he didn't deserve that.

"He is a great goalkeeper but things can happen. When that happens, you want to move and open another door to make another chance.

"It was a chance to take everything out of his football career because it is not easy to be on your toes after this game against Real Madrid," Dudek said.

Karius has spent the last two seasons on loan at Turkish side Beşiktaş and hasn't played for Liverpool since that famous Champions League final defeat in 2018.

Despite making two high profile errors in the game Dudek believes this performance could spur him on to prove his doubters wrong in England.

"I think he is absolutely a great goalkeeper, I have no doubt about this.

"I know he has come back to Liverpool but it is up to the manager to see what they want to do.

"Maybe he is with Liverpool and learns from the mistakes.

"He can be very important and maybe he feels [like saying] 'hey, guys, I want to be back in this Liverpool squad.

"'I feel I have to give something back after this final. I have lived the last two years with this and I cannot get away.'

"But as I said, that is the decision between the coaches and himself when they meet," he said.

Karius won't report back to training with Liverpool until the current campaign has been completed, but his return has understandably been met with some trepidation by supporters.

When he first joined Liverpool in 2016 the German spent much of his time competing with Simon Mignolet for the number 1 spot. While he showed himself as a competent shot-stopper it became clear that he was far from a stable option between the sticks.

His time at the club culminated in those two dreadful errors in the 2018 Champions League final.

And this is the big issue when it comes to Karius.

If he does indeed remain at Liverpool it is likely the Kiev final will continue to haunt him. If not in his own mind at least in the mind of all Liverpool supporters.

There is also the small issue of a certain Alisson Becker now occupying Liverpool's goalkeeper position.

The Brazilian has been superb since joining the club and has been a huge part of the team's transformation from nearly-men to European Champions and league winners in waiting.

It seems near on impossible that anyone can come in and displace him let alone someone who already has such a blotched history with the club.

Karius is probably a better goalkeeper than current understudy Adrian, but at 26 years old the German needs to be getting first-team football.

While it would be nice to see Karius one day flourish at Anfield it, unfortunately, seems just as likely as anyone catching the Reds at the top of the table.

After a rocky spell in Turkey, where at times his wages weren't even paid, Karius' next move will almost certainly determine the success of his career.

He is still young enough to make a valuable contribution somewhere. But Liverpool is not the place.

A return to his native Germany has been speculated and this may be the best option for him.