Former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius has said that his family received death threats after the 2018 Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, a game in which the German's career changed forever
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius following the Champions League final defeat in May 2018
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius following the Champions League final defeat in May 2018
Loris Karius has said his family received death threats following Liverpool's 2018 Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in Kyiv.
Having joined Liverpool back in 2016, Karius was viewed as a potential long-term starter for the Reds between the sticks. The German made 16 appearances in all competitions during the 2016/17 season, then 33 during the 2017/18 campaign, 13 of which came in the Champions League.
But the trajectory of Karius' career was changed altogether during the Champions League final against Real Madrid. At halftime, the Reds and Real Madrid were deadlocked at 0-0, with neither side managing to take control of the game. However, in the 48th minute, Karius was struck by an elbow from Sergio Ramos, from which it was later revealed he suffered a concussion.
At the time, nothing was made of the collision. Three minutes after the incident, Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema found the back of the net to open the scoring, anticipating an underarm throw from Karius intended for Dejan Lovren.
While Liverpool got itself back into the game through Sadio Mane, Gareth Bale scored a stunning overhead kick to make it 2-1 to Real Madrid.
With the Reds chasing the game again, Karius's second error of the night came in the 83rd minute after he allowed Gareth Bale's shot from distance to slip through his hands and into the back of the Reds' net, sealing a 3-1 win for Real Madrid.
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KIEV, UKRAINE - MAY 26: Loris Karius of Liverpool shows dejection after Real Madrid's third goal during the UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool at NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium on May 26, 2018 in Kiev, Ukraine. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius during the Champions League final against Real Madrid in 2018(Image: Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Undoubtedly, the concussion impacted Karius, both on and off the field.
The German received death threats following Liverpool's defeat, with Karius admitting earlier this year that things escalated so quickly that police had to stand guard at his house "24 hours a day."
"I didn’t read the threats, but there were death threats against me and my family," Karius told the TOMorrow podcast.
"Things the police took seriously enough to stand guard at my place 24 hours a day. It’s not exactly a great feeling when you see the police having to stand guard at your home."
Loris Karius was in top form for Schalke against Bayern Munich.
Loris Karius was in top form for Schalke against Bayern Munich earlier this season(Image: Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
The loss to Real Madrid ended Karius' Liverpool career. Just months later, Liverpool signed Alisson, with Karius going out on loan to join Besiktas, where he spent the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons. He also went out on loan to Union Berlin during the 2020/21 season, with Karius' time on Merseyside coming to an end in June 2022 when he was released.
Since then, Karius has played for Newcastle United, with the German starting the 2022/23 Carabao Cup final against Manchester United after Nick Pope was suspended. Following his time with the Magpies, Karius returned home to Germany, helping Schalke return to the Bundesliga.
He has played four games in the Bundesliga this season, with his most impressive performance coming against Bayern Munich in a 0-0 draw, in which he made 5 saves, including a brilliant stop to deny Harry Kane.