Forgotten Liverpool 'keeper Loris Karius looks unrecognisable after bulking up

Loris Karius has not played a match for Liverpool in nearly four years but he has clearly put that time on the sidelines to good use, judging by his latest Instagram post.

Karius remains a Liverpool player despite not having played for the club since his disastrous performance in the Champions League final against Real Madrid in May 2018. The 28-year-old goalkeeper has spent the past three years away from Anfield, on loan with Besiktas and Union Berlin, but is currently back training with the Reds.

He had been expected to leave the club on a free transfer in January, but his £65,000 per week wages proved to be a stumbling block to an early departure. As a result, he is stuck training at Kirkby, behind Alisson, Caoimhin Kelleher and Adrian - and promising young goalkeepers Marcelo Pitaluga and Harvey Davies - in Jurgen Klopp's pecking order.

The German has at least put his free time to good use, hitting the gym hard to transform his physique. Karius used to cut a skinny figure in the Liverpool goal, but his latest Instagram post shows a bulked up version alongside the caption, "An afternoon well spent" and a strong arm emoji.

The comments tell a story, with fans responding in shock at his appearance. "Wow someones [sic] been in the gym," wrote one supporter. "Beast bro," added another. "He's like the terminator now nothings getting past him," joked another. "Woaahh someone has been training hard. Looking so good," wrote another commenter.

Karius is clearly using the dead time before his Liverpool contract expires this summer to focus on the physical side of things. Being in the final six months of his deal means he is able to discuss a free transfer with other clubs - and a move back to Germany appears the most likely step.

Karius made 50 appearances for Liverpool following his £4.7million move from Mainz in July 2016. He was the first-choice keeper for the 2017/18 season, but his nightmare performance in the 3-1 Champions League final against Real Madrid proved to be the end of his spell in the side, with Alisson arriving that summer to take the No 1 spot.

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Klopp spoke about Karius' situation in January, explaining that he simply has too many goalkeepers to consider playing his compatriot. "Loris Karius the player, who is doing absolutely nothing wrong, who is in a really good shape, who is training very hard," he said. "He is committed, the goalie coaches are fully committed, that's clear."

He added: "Before the season we made a decision. Obviously it was in the club's interest as well that Loris finds a new club, stuff like this. That didn't happen, so fine. We made a decision. He'll be treated completely normally, absolutely, but we have the goalies… Loris, I wish him only the best and he will find a club whenever - now or in the summer. And then from there he will go on, I'm very sure."