Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has angrily accused Bournemouth of showing a lack of respect towards goalkeeper Loris Karius.

Bournemouth clinched a dramatic 4-3 victory over Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium last weekend after Karius spilled a shot from Steve Cook in injury time which allowed Nathan Ake to bundle the ball into the net.

Cherries defender Cook subsequently revealed the club had made the 23-year-old German goalkeeper, who moved to Anfield from Bundesliga club Mainz for £4.7m in the summer, a “target” because he was a “weakness in the Liverpool side”.

Klopp is set to retain Karius for the visit of West Ham United on Sunday and was left aghast by Cook’s comments about his compatriot.

“That’s one of the worst things I ever heard in life,” Klopp said. “The guy who won the game – I don’t know who it was – thinks he needs to say something like this after the game.

“Win the game, have respect for the player of the other team. I thought ‘really, what did he say?’

“If they thought before the game that Loris Karius is a weakness then I don’t which game they were looking at.

That’s one of the worst things I ever heard in life. Jurgen Klopp

“The game before against Sunderland he saved our life in three or four situations. I am really looking forward to playing Bournemouth again because of this.”

Karius began the season on an equal pegging with Belgium international Simon Mignolet, before Klopp decided to make the former his first choice.

An important factor in Klopp’s thinking was the desire to have a goalkeeper with good distribution who is comfortable with the ball at his feet and Karius has appeared superior to Mignolet in that regard.



Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola took a similar decision with his decision to replace England No.1 Joe Hart with Claudio Bravo.

“You need players who fit the style,” Klopp explained. “We are a footballing side and sometimes we use the goalkeeper for this.

“We need [him] to make quick decisions. Don’t think I’m pretty special in this I think all coaches would look for the same.”

Nevertheless the scrutiny on Karius will intensify with 12,390 pairs of eyes in Liverpool’s Kop End watching his every step – particularly if West Ham start with former Liverpool striker Andy Carroll.

Liverpool January transfer targets Show all 7 1 /7 Liverpool January transfer targets Liverpool January transfer targets Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund) The Merseyside club failed with an £11m bid for the 18-year-old striker in the summer, but may try their hand at signing him again this January. Pulisic is one of Europe's most highly-rated teenagers, having already made his international debut for the United States. Getty Liverpool January transfer targets Virgil van Dijk (Southampton) It would not be a transfer window without Liverpool being linked with somebody from Southampton. This time it's Van Dijk, who has emerged as one of the Premier League's best centre-halves since arriving on the south coast from Celtic. Getty Liverpool January transfer targets Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen) Jurgen Klopp is reportedly keen to strengthen his defence and the Bayer Leverkusen centre-back would be a good addition for the Reds. The German Tah is only 20 years of age but has impressed for both club and country this season. Getty Liverpool January transfer targets Paul-Georges Ntep (Rennes) The left-midfielder’s deal at Rennes expires at the end of the season and so he will be free to sign a pre-contract in January. A strong dribbler of the ball, Ntep has been made two appearances for France. Getty Liverpool January transfer targets Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon) Seeing as Roberto Firmino is not a natural no. 9 and Daniel Sturridge has fallen out of favour, Liverpool have been linked with several strikers including French forward Alexandre Lacazette. The Lyon striker is quick, explosive and has already reached double figures this season. Getty Liverpool January transfer targets Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao) The Athletic Bilbao youngster signed a new contract in January with a release clause of €50m, but the rumours linking him with Anfield have not died down. The 22-year-old would certainly fit in with Jurgen Klopp’s style of play. Getty Liverpool January transfer targets Mahmoud Dahoud (Borussia Monchengladbach) Jurgen Klopp has long admired the Germany under-21 midfielder, who plies his trade with Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany. Klopp will have to do battle with former club Dortmund to sign the German, while Italian giants Juventus are also interested. Getty

Klopp, though, urged Karius to “close his ears” to external criticism and claimed a collective improvement from his players is required against Slaven Bilic’s side.

“Of course you don’t want to concede goals and that is all about defending of the whole team,” Klopp said.

“Sometimes you need the goalkeeper and he made a lot of good saves in the last few games. And then this not so good save in the last minute against Bournemouth.

“That didn’t feel too good but it is important for development that when you have a situation like this that you feel the right criticism, not the criticism from people who want to send you out of the country or something.”

Karius' error allowed Bournemouth to steal a late winner last weekend (Getty)

Liverpool, meanwhile, are likely to be without striker Daniel Sturridge until the Merseyside derby against Everton on December 19 as he continues to recover from a calf injury.

Sturridge has not featured for the Reds since a 12-minute cameo in the goalless draw with Southampton last month and no timescale has been put on the 27-year-old’s comeback.

“I can't make pressure with making timelines,” Klopp said. “Hopefully he will be back as quick as possible but at this moment I have no idea.