NEWCASTLE look set to turn to forgotten man Loris Karius in the Carabao Cup final next Sunday after starter Nick Pope was shown a red card against Liverpool.
The Toon play Manchester United at Wembley next weekend and all was looking rosey heading into the cup final with main man Bruno Guimaraes returning from a three-game suspension just in time.
ReutersNick Pope was sent off for deliberately handling the ball outside the box[/caption]
GettyThe keeper was shown a straight red card and will be suspended for next Sunday’s final[/caption]
GettyLoris Karius is likely to be the man called upon to start the final[/caption]
But Eddie Howe’s men were dealt a MASSIVE blow as starting keeper Pope was shown a straight red card in Saturday’s clash with Liverpool.
With the Reds already 2-0 up inside 20 minutes, Pope was then sent off for handling the ball well outside his penalty area.
Trying to head the ball, the England international got it all wrong and handled the ball instead.
His intervention stopped a potential third Liverpool goal being scored by Mo Salah and saw him dismissed with no complaints.
But with Pope now suspended for the final, Toon fans quickly turned their attention to who will fill in at Wembley and realised they’d be relying on forgotten man Karius.
That’s because regular backup goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, who came on after Pope was sent off, is cup tied having played for Man Utd in the Carabao Cup earlier this season before being recalled from his loan.
Another option might have been Karl Darlow, but he was loaned to Hull in January.
Karius is yet to play for the Magpies this season, and hasn’t played a competitive game since February 2021 – a staggering gap of TWO YEARS.
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
His last game for an English club was his famously calamitous performance in the 2018 Champions League final for Liverpool – after which he never played for the club again.
One fan said on Twitter: “Karius is going to be Newcastle’s goalkeeper for the final I’m crying.”
Another tweeted: “If Pope is suspended and Dubravka cup tied, you’re not telling me that Loris Karius is going to be starting a major cup final for Newcastle I’m howling.”
One fan joked: “Karius has a good record in cup finals, right?”
Another said: “Karius man. I’m having heart palpitations.”
Others have said that Karius will be having flashbacks to the 3-1 Champions League final loss to Real Madrid in which he made two awful clangers.
Others, meanwhile, are hoping Karius can get his cup final redemption.
A fan said: “Loris Karius redemption arc at Wembley then.”