Liverpool missed an opportunity to actively pursue the signing of Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, according to Graeme Souness.
The Reds needed a second stopper to provide competition for Simon Mignolet but instead opted to sign Loris Karius from Mainz instead of exploring the option of bringing in the England international from rivals City, before he eventually surprisingly joined Torino on loan.
Karius has deposed Mignolet as Jurgen Klopp's number one choice between the sticks at Anfield but has not wholly convinced with a series of errors drawing criticism from pundits.
Safe to say Loris Karius is not the biggest fan of Gary Neville...�
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Klopp was quick in jumping to Karius' defence after a mistake led to Bournemouth's decisive goal in the 4-3 defeat to the Cherries last week, but Souness still thinks Hart would have been the better option initially.
With Liverpool's attacking style, the goalkeeper is not asked to do very much but Loris Karius has not exactly covered himself in glory,� wrote Souness for his Times column.
Are they any better off with this guy, than they have been with Simon Mignolet in recent years? I'd suggest not. Joe Hart is better than either. Could they have got him on loan? I don't know, but they should have tried to.�
Karius is expected to retain his place in goal for Liverpool as they travel to face West Ham on Sunday. The young goalkeeper became embroiled in a war of words with Gary Neville during the week after the former Manchester United defender criticised his performance against Bournemouth.
However, Jurgen Klopp has been effusive in his praise towards the 23-year-old, refusing to criticise him.
You need players who fit the style," the German coach said. "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. Of course, you don't want to concede goals and that is all about the defending of the whole team.''
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