Forgotten Liverpool Champions League final starter earns Man of the Match on debut for new club after ‘long journey of hardship.’

Not every Liverpool player finds greater success after leaving the club, but it’s great to see one former Red thriving in Germany.

Following Schalke’s 1-0 victory, in which he made his debut, Loris Karius was the standout performer. Speaking to schalke04.de, he reflected on his journey:

“I’ve endured a long period of suffering, but I never gave up. I kept working hard, believing that football would eventually reward my efforts.

“Not everything was perfect, and there’s still room for improvement, but overall, it was a decent debut.

“You could see from that moment how united we are as a team and what this win means to the players and me.

“I simply did my job and repaid the trust placed in me by the club’s management.”

After a turbulent few years, it’s refreshing to hear Karius speak with such positivity on his return to German football.

From starting a Champions League final in Kyiv with Liverpool to now playing in Germany’s second tier, his career has taken a dramatic turn. However, with five saves and the highest rating on the pitch (via SofaScore), the 31-year-old will hope Schalke is the fresh start he needs.

Former Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg previously spoke about working to rebuild Karius’ confidence after the infamous Kyiv final, emphasizing there’s “no bad blood” from his time at Anfield.

Now back on the right track, hopefully, this marks the beginning of a stable and successful chapter for Karius.