Liverpool news: Reds keeper Loris Karius admits he has messed up, but hits back at critics including Gary Neville
LIVERPOOL goalkeeper Loris Karius has hit back at his critics after last weekend's high profile blunder against Bournemouth - saying he does not care what the likes of Gary Neville say.
The German stopper, signed by fellow countryman Jurgen Klopp from Mainz last summer, has impressed between the sticks until his fumble in the dying embers against Bournemouth.
Keep up to date with ALL the Liverpool news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary
He spilled a Benik Afobe shot into the path of Nathan Ake, who scored to give the Cherries an unlikely victory - a mistake which he does not shy away from.
He told the : "It was my mistake, no doubt about it. I wanted to catch the ball and didn’t.
"I think it looked a bit easier on TV than it was. The ball was flying weird and went by the side of Nathaniel Clyne so I didn’t have much time.
"So it wasn’t easy but I should have caught it and I don’t need anybody to tell me it was bad... because I know.
"I am sorry that it cost us a point."
After the defeat, Klopp took his side away to Barcelona - and the criticism followed Karius, particularly punditry on Sky by Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville.
Carragher suggested the young German does not look like a Liverpool goalkeeper and Neville said Karius transmitted anxiety to his defenders - things he takes on board from one, not the other.
He added: "Carragher was here at Liverpool for a long time so maybe after the game he was a bit frustrated. He is probably still a supporter. I have to accept it.
"What critics say right after the game, I don’t know what I think. If you asked them again would they say it now?
"And I don’t care what Gary Neville said. He was a manager for a short bit and now he is back to being an expert again.
related stories
"But he is always very critical. I think he does it to everyone. I just hope that when I do well he will comment on that. We will see in the future."
Before returning to his homeland, the Germany youth international spent time as a 16-year-old in Manchester City's youth academy - and he was frank about being dehumanised in the system.
He said: "I think sometimes people think we are like robots because we get paid good or whatever. They think we have no emotions or feelings, that we can never have a bad day.
"That’s not how it works, we are still humans. We make mistakes. We have better days, worse days. The fact we get paid well doesn’t really change that.
"It’s always good to have support from the fans. It really helps the players. And it’s right that they expect much.
"But sometimes I am not sure if everyone understands the whole package of professional football and what we have to deal with. Of course we enjoy playing football every day. It is the dream job. But it can be hard so it has both sides."
He trained regularly with the first team under then manager Roberto Mancini, sharing pitch time with players like Vincent Kompany, Craig Bellamy and Mario Balotelli - and most importantly of all, Joe Hart.
Karius added: "Joe Hart was really good to train with. He always talked to me, not just about training but also in general on football, on the life.
"He was such a good person to talk to so that you could understand a bit more what it is to be a first-choice goalkeeper.
"It was good training, really high quality. But, of course, you have to realise that you are only 16 and that you have a long way to go and you can’t let the life they live and the cars they drive affect you.
"It was tough to understand that their life and the focus on the club was actually something you hadn’t earned yet and were not entitled to.
"So I had to be careful not to get into it too much. But it was a great time for me. I don’t regret any of it."
On Sunday at Anfield, West Ham pose a physcial threat to Liverpool, particularly Andy Carroll who is being lined up to start - but Klopp's faith in Karius is strong and he will play again.
"I’m sure there will a lot of crosses this weekend with Andy Carroll up front,’ he added. ‘For some teams, that is the biggest chance they have against us.
"You just have to stay calm and make the right decisions. The first few games I struggled but after that I felt really comfortable.
"You can’t expect help from the referees and it’s the same for us all.
"When a striker misses a chance people say he should have scored but five minutes later they don’t talk about it anymore.
"In our position it’s not like that. Goalkeepers don’t get second chances but also we can win games and be praised so that’s the way it is.
"I’m not unhappy. I choose to be a goalkeeper. This is what I choose to do and this is how it is."