Yahoo Sports Loris Karius is not to blame for Real Madrid beating Liverpool in the Champions League final - Dejan Lovren
Dejan Lovren has insisted that Loris Karius must not be blamed for Liverpool's Champions League final defeat, despite the goalkeeper's errors handing a 3-1 victory to Real Madrid in Kiev.
Karius was first left to watch on in horror as Karim Benzema intercepted his routine throw out of defence to deflect the ball over the goalline and give Zinedine Zidane's side the lead.
Sadio Mané equalised shortly after but Gareth Bale, a second-half substitute, then produced a spectacular overhead kick after 64 minutes to restore Madrid's one-goal advantage.
Karius could do little to prevent Bale's first but was at fault once again for the Welshman's second, letting a speculative shot from distance pass through his hands.
The goalkeeper, who has spent time out of Jurgen Klopp's side for costly mistakes in the past, appeared distraught after the final whistle and tearfully apologised to the travelling Liverpool supporters.
Karius' mistakes may cost him his place in Liverpool's starting line-up but centre-half Lovren called on supporters and the media to be kind to the goalkeeper in the wake of his night to forget.
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"When we win, we win together. When we lose, we lose together. So don't blame him," the Croatian said. "It's easy to blame someone, but we are in the same ship together and everyone gave him the best words that they can. He will come back strong. You cannot find the words.
"He had a difficult start last season, so I believe in him. Don't make massive stories about that. Of course it's big because it's a final, but everyone makes mistakes."
Liverpool began the night well and edged the opening stages of a finely-balanced contest but a shoulder injury to the free-scoring Mohamed Salah rocked Klopp's players and from thereon, they struggled to regain momentum.
Lovren, like the rest of his team-mates, cut a forlorn figure after the final whistle but later stressed that every member of the Liverpool squad could be proud of their achievement in reaching the final.
"This feeling is difficult to describe," he said. "We are devastated, it's heartbreaking. After such a long road where we managed to beat the best teams in Europe... this first goal was a big surprise, to be honest. Nobody expected it.
"I'm proud of the team, I'm proud of the players who were even injured. They gave everything. I'm proud of the fans who travelled such a long way to support us. I promise that next year we will come back even stronger because I feel this team is growing every day. We will do."
