Neil Mellor has said that he believes that Loris Karius' position as Liverpool's long-term goalkeeping option is not under threat, despite his less-than-impressive performances of late.
Karius swapped the Bundesliga for the Premier League in a £4.7m from Mainz in the summer, and was installed as the club's new number one shot stopper by Jurgen Klopp at the expense of Simon Mignolet.
However, sections of the fanbase and critics have called for Mignolet to be reinstated in goal after some poor display by Karius in recent weeks - form that included the 23-year-old's terrible showing in the 4-3 capitulation to Bournemouth on Sunday.
The youngster was at fault for Steve Cook's long range strike that resulted in Nathan Ake's late winner, and has looked shaky dealing with other long range efforts and at set pieces for the Reds.
Speaking to the Daily Express, however, ex-Liverpool striker Mellor is of the opinion that Karius was brought in to become Liverpool's permanent number one choice in goal for many years to come - although he did admit that the German needed to find his best form quickly if he was retain his place in the starting line up.
Mellor said: "I think the thing is for goalkeepers if they make any kind of mistake it gets scrutinised. If you're doing that week in week out then absolutely [drop him] but this was the first time he has really come under pressure with goals where he could have perhaps done better.
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"Defensively Liverpool were disrupted by the absence of Joel Matip who's been a big player for them this season - him not being in there certainly had an impact on the game - but I think he [Karius] could have done better for a couple of the goals.
"But I also know that he was brought in to be a long-term first-choice goalkeeper. It wasn't a case of him being the world class option which obviously Liverpool would one day hope he would be. But it's about developing him into a top goalkeeper which is what Jurgen brought him in to do."
Karius has made 10 appearances for Liverpool so far this term, keeping four clean sheets in the process.
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