Loris Karius’ nine months of progress led him right back to where he started, only now more psychologically bruised

Karius' world crumbled around him as his two mistakes gifted Real Madrid the Champions League

Before he walked out to warm-up at the NSC Olimpiyskiy, Loris Karius perhaps took a moment to reflect on the nine months of steady, gradual progress that had earned him his starting place in a Champions League final.

He was, at that early point in the evening, a long way down the road from the tense and skittish display he put in during his first outing of the season - a 4-0 league win over Arsenal last August, after being surprisingly selected ahead of the 'rested' Simon Mignolet.

That was Karius’ first Liverpool start outside of the domestic cup competitions since the previous November, and thus Jürgen Klopp’s first real show of faith in him since a calamitous start to his Anfield career.

Though clearly keen to impress and often an imposing presence that day, his display was still pockmarked by the moments of indecision and poor judgement. Most memorably, Karius was almost caught in possession inside his own penalty area on two separate occasions, guilty of dallying on the ball too long both times.

Post-match, Klopp politely said his goalkeeper was “sometimes too cool” but no criticism from his manager would have stung Karius quite as much as the treatment he received from some of his own supporters. Late on, when the young goalkeeper hoofed a clearance first-time rather risk another round of rondo, he was ironically cheered by parts of Anfield.

It was poor form from a vocal minority. Klopp showed his disapproval on the touchline and influential match-going Liverpool supporters condemned it on online channels too. Mocking a goalkeeper starting back at square one was counter-productive, they correctly argued. Yet the incident was a reminder that many fans have hang-ups and insecurities about players that are hard to shake.

Karius has not been ironically cheered at Anfield again since and once he became Klopp's full-time first-choice at the turn of the year, confidence in his abilities grew. The player himself began to build confidence too, to the point where Liverpool's long-standing weakness in goal was barely mentioned in the build-up to Saturday's final.

Read more coverage on the Champions League final:

• Miguel Delaney: The definitive read from an enthralling night
• Jonathan Liew: The emptiness of the biggest stage
• Ed Malyon: Why relentless Real make their own luck
• Mark Critchley: Salah's early exit cripples Liverpool
• Explained: Salah's injury and his chances of playing in Russia
• Man marking: We run the rule over both teams in Kiev
• Transfer talk #1: Ronaldo opens the door to shock exit
• ​Transfer talk #2: Bale issues come and get me plea

Yet the fragility Karius showed during his first spell in the side always hung over his reintroduction, and his performances since taking over from Mignolet have never been strong enough to suggest that more problems would not arise. As with any goalkeeper, another mistake was inevitable. His response to it would be decisive.

If the magnitude of Karius' first error against Real Madrid does not do for him, then the fact it was followed by a second surely will. Allowing Gareth Bale's speculative effort from range to pass him was not as bad a mistake as throwing the ball onto the foot of Karim Benzema – an error so basic it has no place at this rarefied level or several rungs below – but it suggested that the past nine months now counted for nothing.

Face down in the turf upon the final whistle, Karius was psychologically right back to square one, where he found himself in August. Klopp saw the link and, even while displaying solidarity with his goalkeeper, could not help but note it. “The second one is because of the first one,” he said. “It's really difficult to get rid of bad thoughts you have in your mind.”

Karius was in tears at the final whistle (Getty ) (Getty)

Liverpool are expected to sign a new goalkeeper this summer but any newcomer is likely to replace the disaffected Mignolet. Karius will almost certainly stay and therefore must be supported, though his only chances at redemption may come as a 'cup keeper' or at times when a new first-choice – perhaps Roma's Allisson – is unavailable.

Even if this is not the end of his spell as Liverpool's No 1, even if Klopp's faith in him holds out over the summer, it is hard to see how he regains the trust of the support for a second time. The next time Karius moves to roll the ball out to his centre-half while being closed down by an opponent, there will be a sharp intake of breath among even the most sympathetic of supporters.

If he pulls it off successfully, he may even hear another cruel ironic cheer.