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Loris Karius wasn’t the only man to take the flak for Liverpool ’s failings against West Ham.

Social media was awash with a torrent of criticism being aimed at a member of Jurgen Klopp’s backroom staff.

Karius’ struggles have been held up as proof in some quarters that goalkeeping coach John Achterberg is the problem rather than the solution.

It’s not an opinion which is shared by anyone inside Melwood.

The fact is that the Dutchman is a highly-regarded coach who retains the full backing of the manager. The goalkeepers he works with on a daily basis also speak glowingly about the calibre of the sessions he delivers.

Last summer the 45-year-old became one of the few keeping coaches in European football to acquire the UEFA Pro Licence - the highest qualification available. The idea that he’s a weak link is simply wrong and hugely disrespectful.

If Klopp had any doubts about Achterberg’s capabilities then he wouldn’t still be part of the set-up.

After all the German isn’t afraid to ring the changes - underlined by last summer’s overhaul which saw Andreas Kornmayer brought in as the club's new head of fitness and conditioning and Mona Nemmer follow him to Liverpool from Bayern Munich as head of nutrition.

When Klopp and his trusted assistants Zeljko Buvac and Peter Krawietz penned new six-year deals back in July, Achterberg and first-team development coach Pep Lijnders were also handed contract extensions.

He’s very much part of ‘Team Klopp’ and that isn’t likely to change any time soon.

Achterberg joined the Liverpool Academy staff during Rafa Benitez’s reign in 2009 after 11 years of service to Tranmere Rovers and more than 300 appearances.

It was Kenny Dalglish who promoted him to the role of first-team goalkeeping coach in the summer of 2011 and he’s retained that position under both Brendan Rodgers and Klopp.

Critics highlight the issues Liverpool have had with keepers over the past five-and-a-half years and point to Achterberg as the one common denominator. They demand to know who he’s improved out of Pepe Reina, Alexander Doni, Péter Gulacsi, Brad Jones, Simon Mignolet, Adam Bogdan, Danny Ward and Karius.

For a start Reina was in decline before Achterberg got to work with him, while Doni, Jones and Bogdan - who cost a combined total of £2.3million - simply weren’t up to it.

Playing for Liverpool is not just a question of talent, there’s also the pressure and expectation which many struggle to handle.

Gulacsi, who is now shining for RB Leipzig, was young and never got to to make a senior appearance for the Reds, while Ward’s development at Liverpool has been eye-catching and his education is currently continuing on loan at Huddersfield Town.

Kop legend Bruce Grobbelaar has previously slammed Achterberg for the flaws he sees in Mignolet’s game.

“I now know who the true person to blame is,” he said. “If he (Achterberg) can’t right Mignolet’s wrongs in two years then he shouldn’t be there.”

However, it’s difficult to take Grobbelaar seriously when in the next breath he basically admitted that he wants Achterberg’s job.

The reality is that Mignolet has kicked on over the past six months and it shows the value of having proper competition - something Mignolet didn’t really have with either Jones or Bogdan about.

In terms of Karius, you can’t judge the impact of the coaching he’s getting after just 11 appearances. Has he performed for the Reds like someone who was voted the second best keeper in the Bundesliga last season? No, but then playing for Liverpool is a world away from life at Mainz.

It’s also worth remembering that under both Rodgers and Klopp the Reds have been committed to a brand of attacking football which means the keeper isn’t blessed with a huge amount of protection.

“I really trust in John Achterberg because he does a brilliant job here. He’s one of the hardest working people I’ve ever met.”

They were the words of Klopp last season and they still ring true today.

After the mistakes which have blighted recent Liverpool performances, a major improvement is required between the posts. But Klopp’s faith in Acherberg to help achieve that remains.