Loris Karius drops hint over Newcastle United future - and makes Liverpool admission

Loris Karius has hinted he wants to stay at Newcastle United. The former Liverpool goalkeeper signed a short-term contract at St James’ Park in September, which expires at the beginning of next month.

The 29-year-old, a free agent after leaving Anfield, was snapped up by the Magpies after an injury to Karl Darlow in training. Karius is yet to make a competitive appearance for Eddie Howe’s side, although did play the first half in the 5-0 friendly win over Al-Hilal last week.

Karius’ impressive display, where he pulled off five saves against the Saudi Pro League champions, has strengthened his case for a longer-term deal. Howe himself admitted he’d like the goalkeeper to stay, and it appears the German feels the same.

Loris Karius hopes to stay at Newcastle

“I spoke with them (the club) a little bit,” Karius told the media in Riyadh. “We didn’t go into too much detail yet, because we had the break after. We’ll speak in the next (few) weeks now, probably. It’s not much time left.

“Like I said, it’s been a great few months. Of course, I don’t play yet, but how I’ve been training, how I was welcomed by the whole group makes me believe I can achieve more things here.

“That’s my aim, to be here for a long project instead of a short one.”

Getting the call from Newcastle

Karius had offers from elsewhere before deciding to join Newcastle. He is grateful to Howe for handing him a second chance in England after his nightmare spell at Liverpool.

“Obviously, I had options, but they didn’t feel like the right options. That’s football. It happens very fast,” Karius said. “When Newcastle called me, I thought it was a great chance to go back to England and maybe show myself and prove myself again.

“Of course, we have four goalkeepers in the squad, but I’m ready when the manager needs me, and the rest of the time I will push and make it difficult for him to make the decision.”

He added: “Of course, I’m thankful, but then at the end, I need to deliver. I cannot just be thankful and sit there and not perform. That’s not how I work.

“It was a great chance offered by Newcastle to me, and I have to grab it with both hands and make the best out of it. There’s a chance to stay here possibly, so that’s a good sign. It’s a good reflection of the work in training.”

Karius’ Liverpool nightmare

Karius’ outing against Al-Hilal was his first competitive appearance since February 2021.

The fallout since his two errors in Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in 2018 has seen him loaned to Besiktas for two years before spending a year at Union Berlin.

Asked about how that game impacted his career, Karius said: “It made me go to another club. It was maybe a move that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. It was a late move but I don’t know.

“My time at Liverpool was over and I was looking to move on and then there were difficulties to get the transfer done. I found myself in a situation where I had to stay at Liverpool knowing I wouldn’t get my chance.

“It was discussed openly with the manager. “There’s no bad blood but knowing the situation from the beginning was tough.”

After another loan move fell through during Karius’ final season at Anfield, the former Mainz 05 goalkeeper was all too aware of where he stood.

He said: “Last season being left out of match day squad, you lose a bit of the feeling you have when you win, lose and travel with the team. You just miss it.

“It’s then not easy to stay positive and keep working. You obviously know you are not going to be involved. I learned a lot from that and tried my best in training and keep myself positive on the mental side.

“I’ve played over 200 games in the first division and national teams so I knew my qualities. I knew I had plenty to offer. I am only turning 30 and that’s not old for a keeper. But of course last season was difficult.”