Absurd Nick Pope debate ahead of Manchester United Carabao Cup final is ignoring inconvenient truth

Loris Karius is the ghost at the feast.

The beleaguered goalkeeper only needed to return to public consciousness for a couple of days for two of the world's best goalkeepers to make horrendous errors. Ironically enough, in the very same fixture in which Karius' career was so brutally changed forever.

Thibaut Courtois and Alisson Becker both made horrific mistakes as Liverpool and Real Madrid played out a reet humdinger in the Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday. As if the very prospect of Karius readying to start his first match in two years has shaken the core of goalkeepers everywhere. Perhaps it's an omen for what is to come later this week.

Read next: Newcastle will miss more than Pope’s goalkeeping against United

Many may not have even known Karius actually played for Newcastle until the 22nd minute of the Magpies' 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday evening. That's when Nick Pope charged out of his box, stooped low in an attempt to head the ball but was as mistimed as an Avanti train and completely whiffed it. As he fell to the floor he saw the ball in front of him and inexplicably grabbed it towards him. A straight red card. No argument.

Newcastle had already conceded two goals when Pope was dismissed so the game wasn't hugely affected but it could have a seismic impact on their season. Even though the red card occurred in the Premier League, red card suspensions are served in domestic competitions as well so he will be banned for Sunday's Carabao Cup final

Social media awoke with gradual realisation, like a flower sprouting in spring. 'That means he's suspended for the final,' 'wait, Martin Dubravka is cup-tied,' 'guess Karl Darlow will play, WAIT he left on loan,' 'who's left then?'

It soon became clear