Besiktas beat Sarpsborg 3-1 in their opening Europa League game of the season at the Vodafone Park Stadium.
Ryan Babel opened the scoring with a fine finish. Enzo Rico found the back of the net with a header soon after and Jeremain Lens netted the Black Eagles third and final goal.
Liverpool loanee Loris Karius started his first European competition game since the Champions League final last season against Real Madrid.
Karius would have kept a clean sheet had it not been for shambolic defending.
The 25-year-old put on a pretty decent display making important saves and stops for the Istanbul giants.
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We took a look at how fans reacted to Karius’ display on social media after the game.
In general fans seemed pretty pleased but were on the look out for any shaky moments.
@LorisKarius thanks. finally. we have goalkeeper.
— Öte Beri (@teBeri3) September 20, 2018
75’ KARIUS!!! Wonderful one on one save from the German! Rachid through on goal but Karius shows his class.
— Beşiktaş Int. (@Besiktas_Int) September 20, 2018
WHAT A SAVE FROM KARIUS!
— Besiktas Central (@BesiktasCentraI) September 20, 2018
Watching the Besiktas game now, Karius nearly had a scare there
— LFC Fans Corner (@LFCFansCorner) September 20, 2018
I must admit that you are really one of a kind, a unique goalkeeper with peculiar qualities? hope that you are going to experience the real spirit of the “black eagles” by all means, in the middle/long run…Good luck mate???@LorisKarius pic.twitter.com/QqWHCXYoqs
— Alaz Toker (@alaztoker) September 20, 2018
Karius : God of the Keepers
— Alper Tamer (@arukiddnme) September 20, 2018
“He would have earned his first clean sheet if it wasn’t for the shambolic set piece defending. Once Besiktas sort their defensive issues, it will be really hard to score against them as Karius is looking unbeatable at the goal. He’s arguably one of the best moves of the summer.”
— LFC Transfer Room (@LFCTransferRoom) September 20, 2018
Karius has established himself as first-choice keeper at Besiktas since joining on a two-year loan from Liverpool and has started every game since completing the move.
