Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius reveals how Jurgen Klopp convinced him to make Anfield switch

Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius has revealed a personal phone call from manager Jurgen Klopp convinced him to join the Anfield club. The 23-year-old signed for the Reds from German side Mainz for around €6m (£5.3m, $6.5m) in the summer and Karius has explained how his switch to Merseyside came about.

Karius – who displaced Simon Mignolet as Liverpool's first-choice goalkeeper – says his charismatic countryman was instrumental in the transfer.

"He is a big personality everyone listens to," the Liverpool star said of Klopp to Sport Bild. "He briefly introduced himself [on the phone], and then we had a long chat. I had a good feeling because he's such a pleasant guy. We talked about this and that, and I soon realised that we are talking the same language. It was immediately clear to me that I wanted to move to Liverpool."

What's more, Karius said Klopp is the right manager to lead Liverpool into a successful new era. "That's the way he assembled our squad, with players who are all up for doing great things with Liverpool," he said.

Karius's Liverpool debut was delayed by an early season injury, but he has since established himself as the club's No 1. Despite this, the German welcomes competition from Mignolet at Anfield.

"Competition is always good for the team," he previously said, as quoted by the Liverpool website. "The manager needs to find 11 players and we have great players in every position – probably two for each position. That's how it is. Goalkeeper-wise, the three of us get on really well. In training, of course we know we are in competition, but we have a good relationship and there's a good harmony between us."

Karius also insisted he was more concerned with the team's results than his own situation at the club. "The most important thing is that as a team we get results on top of playing well. Whoever the manager thinks is best to do that for him, that's how it is," he said.