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Loris Karius has revealed Jurgen Klopp persuaded him to duck the Olympics so he can play in Liverpool's opening games of the new campaign.

And that is the firmest proof yet that the German keeper has arrived at Anfield not to be number one Simon Mignolet's understudy, but his replacement.

The Germany U21 international was guaranteed a starting place in his country's Olympics team for the football tournament in Brazil who are a big hope for a medal.

But that would have meant missing Liverpool's opening two Premier League matches, and possibly more.

Reds boss Klopp has invested £5million in the promising keeper, and wants him to play right from the kick off of the campaign.

(Image: Action Images via Reuters)

Karius revealed: "I spoke with the manager and we said that it doesn't make sense for me to go to the Olympics as I would miss the first two league games of the season and of course I want to play in them.

"We agreed together I wouldn't be going (to Rio). First I spoke with Jurgen and then together we spoke with the German people who wanted me to go.

"The priority is the club. It's more important that I am available for the start of the season."

If that isn't a big enough clue that Mignolet's place is under threat, then When asked direct if he has been assured of a starting place, Karius didn't try to offer meaningless sound bites about competition.

Instead, he insisted he hadn't come to be number two to anyone - and had no fear about the challenge. "What we've talked about stays with us," he explained of his talks about a starting position with the manager.

(Image: David Ramos)

"Of course I know that a club like this has more competition. It's a bigger club and better players means more competition. I am not scared or anything. If I was, I wouldn't have come here. I have a good feeling.

"I wouldn't come here just to sit on the bench. That doesn't make sense for me. I'm not a keeper who hasn't shown his ability. I know I am a good goalkeeper and I've shown that a lot. I could have stayed at Mainz and played there.

"If I wasn't sure I could come and play here this season, I wouldn't have done it."

Karius is a friend of pop stars and a heart-throb himself with his Instagram feed that is hugely admired by adoring fans, but he insisted he is deadly serious about claiming a Liverpool place in his secure grasp.

He was voted the second best keeper behind Manuel Neuer in the Bundesliga last season by his fellow pros, and he has experience of English football after a spell as a kid with Manchester City.

(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty)

"It's good to be back in England. When I left Man City I was still really young and I decided to go somewhere else to get some first-team experience," he added.

"I took the step to Mainz. I needed to join a smaller club to get my career going as a young player. I did everything right with that move. I had almost three full seasons in the Bundesliga there.

"I am still young but I've played around 100 games in the Bundesliga so I have some experience. I thought it was time to take the next step in my career.

"The opportunity to join Liverpool came up and I thought it was a good next step for me."

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