Newcastle United flop named the ‘best player’ in his first game after leaving St James’ Park

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Loris Karius had an interesting time of things at Newcastle United.

While it’s hard for any back-up goalkeeper to make a lasting impact on a club, Karius was involved in one of Newcastle United’s biggest ever games, in the modern era at least.

Indeed, Nick Pope’s suspension and Martin Dubravka being cup-tied meant the former Liverpool goalkeeper had to play in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester United back in 2023.

That was his first game in two years and his first major appearance since Liverpool’s infamous Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in 2018, in which he made two glaring mistakes.

The goalkeeper would later play against Arsenal in the Premier League but largely operated in a back-up role before leaving Newcastle in the summer of 2024.

Karius is now at German giants Schalke – albeit a team who currently play in the second tier – and has been impressing.

Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Loris Karius wows on Schalke debut

Karius was making his first appearance for the club, the first time he had laced up a pair of gloves in a competitive game since the defeat to Arsenal in February 2024.

The goalkeeper saved all five of the shots he faced in a 1-0 win for Schalke against Preussen Munster.

Such was the level of his performance, opposition manager Sascha Hildmann said: “We hit the post, the crossbar, and an overhead kick, and the opposing goalkeeper was the best player.”

Why Loris Karius left Newcastle despite Eddie Howe wanting to keep him

Eddie Howe wanted to keep Karius at the club, albeit he was always likely to operate behind Pope and Dubravka.

Still, Karius decided to leave to pursue first-team football, which makes sense given he had rebuilt his career after his Liverpool exit.

To suggest Newcastle could still do with him, of course, would be too much. Pope is attracting criticism right now but Howe does have a wealth of goalkeeping options, having since signed John Ruddy and Odysseas Vlachodimos.

Still, it’s pleasing to see him performing elsewhere.