Liverpool FC

Karius faces axe in Liverpool summer clear-out

Liverpool could offload Loris Karius as part of their summer clear-out plans.

Karius’ return to action since an error-strewn showing in the Champions League final has been overshadowed by similarly poor pre-season displays.

The world-record arrival of Roma goalkeeper Alisson has also undermined the German’s prospects as he faces a fight to save his Anfield future.

Jurgen Klopp has publicly backed Karius since May’s defeat to Real Madrid but the under-fire stopper may now find himself among a host of departures.

Several other Reds players also risk the axe, including Lazar Markovic, Marko Grujic as well as out-of-favour strikers Divock Origi and Danny Ings.

Valencia are the forerunners for Origi, with a £27 million bid expected for the Belgium international, who spent last season on loan with Wolfsburg.

Several Premier League clubs have emerged as suitors for Ings, with Newcastle, Southampton and Crystal Palace chief among them.

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Joel Matip, meanwhile, has left Liverpool’s US tour due to a thigh injury.

Matip suffered the problem midway through the first half of the Reds’ 3-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the International Champions Cup on Sunday.

He is set to return to Merseyside for treatment on the injury, which comes just weeks after returning from a three-month lay-off with a similar issue.

However Anfield officials insist this latest injury is ‘not considered to be a long-term concern’.