The last LM final between Liverpool and Real Madrid produced a huge curveball from Karius. Recall his mistakes

After four years, Real Madrid and Liverpool are back in the Champions League final. This time, the 2018 final will be replayed in Paris, but Reds fans would rather forget about the duel from Kiev.

That match had a clear favourite. Real Madrid had won the Champions League twice in a row and were aiming for a golden hat-trick. The team led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos was on a roll and it seemed no one could stop them.

Liverpool, which Jürgen Klopp had remade in his own image, wanted to try, but at the time it was still not the juggernaut it is today. That’s why Real were the clear favourites, but they were made incredibly easy by Loris Karius.

Liverpool, in fact, had great strength in almost every position. Mohamed Salah dominated the attack in his first season at Anfield Road, seconded by Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino. In midfield, Klopp relied on Henderson with Milner and Wijnaldum, while the defence was a bit shaky, which was incredibly lifted by Virgil Van Dijk after his arrival.

So the Reds walked into the final knowing they had everything they needed to win the title. But they forgot one of the most important positions, the goalkeeper. Loris Karius’ world and virtually his entire football career came crashing down that day.

The first half ended in a goalless draw, and it all started after the change of sides. Kroos’s pass to Benzema was too long and Karius caught it easily on the edge of the box. He wanted to play the ball, but he didn’t know Benzema was lurking next to him. The French shot-stopper stuck his foot in the box and the ball bounced into the net.

Moments later Sadio Mané equalised, but then substitute Gareth Bale took the lead. In the 64th he laid into Marcelo’s centre and scissor-kicked beautifully to give the Spanish side the lead.

But there was another huge miscue by Karius. In the 83rd minute, Bale committed to a shot from distance, the shot was floated but flew into the middle of the goal. Only, Karius couldn’t palm the ball and it chewed its way into the net.

Source: Twitter, UEFA