Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius has claimed that he has returned to his "normal standard" of form since being dropped from the first team.
Karius usurped Simon Mignolet as Jurgen Klopp's first-choice keeper in September and went on to start 10 consecutive league games before a string of questionable performances saw him lose his place in the side.
However, he kept the Reds in their EFL Cup semi-final tie against Southampton with a number of standout saves last week, and he is hopeful of maintaining that form whenever he is given a chance in the starting XI.
"Now I'm back playing at my normal standard. I'm not surprised that I can play like this, because that's my aim and what I expect from myself. I wasn't really surprised or 'buzzing' about it or whatever. That's just what I expect. I take that with me and go on in the next games. I'll try to keep up these performances and help the team when they need me," he told the club's official website.
"I didn't need one save to lift my confidence. I'm always confident in my abilities, even when you have a bad game. You don't question everything you have ever done before, that's not how it works and would be too much thinking. Of course, it's always good to get some saves but nothing to do with getting confidence back. You don't have any other choice – if you don't play, the training is all you have.
"Maybe then there's even more focus on it, because you have more sessions as well when you're not involved in the game. Of course, I would rather be on the field at the weekends, but if that's not how it is you have to do your best in training. But I always try my best in training, because it's for yourself and improves you. It's not about showing everyone what I can do – training is for me to get better. That's how it should be, training well and trying to improve as a young player."
Karius is expected to start again when Liverpool take on Plymouth Argyle in an FA Cup third-round replay at Home Park on Wednesday.
Barney Corkhill
