Watching your favorite team play a Jose Mourinho side is always an exercise in frustration. Monday’s match against Mourinho’s newest experiment, Manchester United, was much the same. Loris Karius, playing against Manchester United for the first time in a Red shirt, believes their cautious set up is an acknowledgment of Liverpool’s significant attacking power up front.
"We knew we had to be patient because it was going to be tough," he said. "United maybe waited for the one chance to get a goal, as obviously their priority was to stop our play, our attacks. They know we're a really strong team, so that's a compliment for us.”
Reflecting on a much-improved second half Karius had some kind words to say for his United counterpart, David De Gea.
"Second half, we managed better to get through, but United defended well with De Gea making top saves,” he lamented. "He's enjoyed great development over the last few years and you can just see he gets better and better. He's right up there among the very best in the world, playing at a consistently high level and is a top goalkeeper."
Karius’s own performance was less impressive, though he also had less to do without Manchester United providing much of an attacking threat. He’ll be credited for Liverpool’s first clean sheet in the league, which is one positive that could be taken from an otherwise lackluster game.
Karius and his teammates will have their next chance to prove themselves this Saturday when they host West Brom for a second straight home game in the league.