Liverpool shot-stopper Loris Karius apologised Sunday via Instagram for his pair of shocking errors in Saturday’s 3-1 Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid.

“Haven’t really slept until now … the scenes are still running through my head again and again … I’m infinitely sorry to my teammates, for you fans, and for all the staff,” Karius’ statement reads. “I know that I messed it up with the two mistakes and let you all down. As I said I’d just like to turn back the time but that’s not possible.”

Karim Benzema was gifted the opener in the 51st minute when Karius’ thrown clearance struck the Frenchman’s boot and ricocheted into the net.

Karius added insult to injury in the 83rd minute as Liverpool sought an equaliser when Gareth Bale’s speculative effort from the car park struck the ‘keeper’s mitts before trickling in.

“It’s even worse as we all felt that we could have beaten Real Madrid and we were in the game for a long time,” Karius continued.

“Thank you to our unbelievable fans who came to Kiev and held my back, even after the game. I don’t take that for granted and once again it showed me what a big family we are. Thank you and we will come back stronger.”

Madrid – Spain defender Dani Carvajal is still in contention to play at the World Cup, despite injuring his hamstring playing for Real Madrid against Liverpool on Saturday.

A tearful Carvajal had to be substituted during the Champions League final in Kiev, prompting fears the right-back would miss this summer’s tournament, which starts in less than three weeks’ time.

However, after undergoing medical tests with Real, a statement released by the national team on Monday indicated the 26-year-old will remain with the squad.

“Carvajal this morning underwent medical tests with his club, with the doctors of the Spanish national team present,” the statement read.

“The tests showed an injury in the hamstring of the right thigh. He will begin the recovery process of this injury with the medical group of the national team, who will stay in close contact with his club.”

Spain play friendlies against Switzerland and Tunisia on June 3 and 9 respectively.

Their first World Cup match will be against Portugal on June 15.

Liverpool is ready to test Roma’s resolve over standout goalkeeper Alisson after Loris Karius’ catastrophic errors in the Champions League, The Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe reports.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has apparently had his eyes on Alisson for some time, and Karius’ humiliating blunders in the 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid appears to have emboldened the German’s search for a top shot-stopper.

Related – Liverpool’s Karius: ‘I’m infinitely sorry’

Karius was anointed Liverpool’s No. 1 goalkeeper at the beginning of 2018, but according to Bascombe, there were already calls for Alisson before Karius’ meltdown. Roma initially quoted the Brazilian’s value at £60 million, Bascombe adds, a price tag that forced Liverpool to stay the course with Karius until the end of the season.

Klopp would reportedly be prepared to play the waiting game for Alisson, just as he did with Virgil van Dijk before signing him from Southampton for a world-record fee for a defender. But the Italian side is understandably leery of selling another big player to Liverpool, who signed Mohamed Salah from Roma last summer for what turned out to be a relatively modest £36 million.

The Guardian’s Andy Hunter believes it will require a “considerable offer” to pry Alisson from Roma’s reluctant hands, while Bascombe envisions a “tough negotiation.”

However, the additional revenue from Liverpool’s deep Champions League run – believed to be around £70 million – plus the windfall from the £142-million sale of Phillipe Coutinho should arm the club’s transfer board with sufficient funds to tempt Roma. The capital side is also still being monitored by UEFA over Financial Fair Play concerns, which could necessitate another sale to ensure break-even compliance.

Alisson kept 17 clean sheets in Serie A as Roma finished in third place.

Cristiano Ronaldo is claiming ownership of the Champions League.

“The Champions League should change its name and call itself the CR7 Champions League,” the Portuguese superstar said, as reported by ESPN FC’s Dermot Corrigan. “I’ve won five, top scorer again, I can’t be unhappy at that.”

Although he was held off the score sheet in Real Madrid’s 3-1 win over Liverpool on Saturday, Ronaldo became the first player in the modern era to win five Champions League titles. He was previously tied on four with Barcelona stars Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Lionel Messi, and Gerard Pique, as well as former Madrid and AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf.

Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Costacurta conquered the continent five times, but two of those victories came in the final years of the old European Cup.

The all-time record is currently held by Paco Gento, who won six with the great Madrid side in the 1950s and 1960s.

Ronaldo has also set a slew of other benchmarks in the tournament’s history, including the most goals in the Champions League (120) and in a single season (17).

He finished the 2017-18 campaign with 15 tallies beside his name – five more than second-placed scorers Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah.