Former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius will have the opportunity to lay to rest the ghost of the 2018 Champions League final after he was selected to start for Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final today.
The 29-year-old German has spent most of the past four and a half years in the football wilderness after he was largely criticised for two calamitous errors that handed Real Madrid the European Cup in Kiev, effectively ending his Anfield career.
Karius is on a short-term contract with Newcastle and just over a week ago, could not have imagined that he would be about to appear in a major Wembley final today. But a bizarre twist of fate has handed him the opportunity.
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The Magpies' regular number one shot stopper Nick Pope was ruled out of the showpiece occasion when he was sent off against Liverpool at St James' Park last weekend, after handling the ball outside his penalty area, earning an immediate suspension. But in a further twist, Newcastle's back-up 'keeper Martin Dubravka is cup-tied, having represented EFL Cup final opponents Manchester United on loan in the competition earlier in the season.
It means that Karius has been handed his first appearance for a Premier League club since the Champions League Final in 2018.
After the team news was confirmed, Liverpool supporters were quick to react on social media and the comments have been largely supportive.
@alexmcguinness wrote on Twitter: "Hope Karius has a blinder" while @Kaye_Kop added: "Hope Karius has a good game here and can attempt to eradicate THAT #ChampionsLeague final."
@__Kyle17 said: "Cant imagine the stress Karius is under, known worldwide for that UCL night and now he's making his Newcastle DEBUT in the biggest game in decades."
However, Danish football fan @markgerardcox made a more sobering point for Liverpool supporters. He Tweeted: "Crikey. Imagine if Loris Karius wins more trophies than Liverpool this year?! Strange times."
After being frozen out at Liverpool, Karis moved to Turkish side Besiktas on loan for two seasons, making 67 appearances, before going on another loan spell back in Germany with Union Berlin, but would only start five matches.
His contract at Anfield finally expired last summer before Eddie Howe picked him up as a free agent for additional goalkeeper coverage at Newcastle.
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