Adrian, 32, was available on a free transfer having been released by the Hammers during the summer.

He played 150 times in six years for West Ham after joining them from Real Betis in 2013.

The Spaniard will fill the gap as Liverpool’s back-up to first-choice Alisson Becker after Belgium keeper Mignolet’s £6.4m transfer to Bruges.

“I’m very ambitious, I come here to try to win everything, to try to push Ali from the first minute and to make us better,” said Adrian.

“Obviously I want to win titles. I come here to fight for all the competitions.

“We have many competitions ahead – we’re going to fight for it and try to get them.”

Adrian joins teenagers Sepp van den Berg and Harvey Elliott in signing for the European champions this summer.

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The German, 24, and his family were the subject of threats after his two mistakes helped Real Madrid to a 3-1 win over the Reds in Kiev on Saturday.

Karius was in tears at the final whistle and apologised to fans.

“We take social media posts of this nature extremely seriously. Offences will be investigated,” police said.

“Officers are aware of a number of comments and threats made via social media.

“Merseyside Police would like to remind social media users than any offences including malicious communications and threatening behaviour will be investigated.”

The German gifted Real striker Karim Benzema an easy goal for the opener in Kiev on Saturday night.

Karius later allowed a Gareth Bale shot to squirm in for Real’s third as the Spanish club won their third consecutive Champions League trophy.

On Sunday, he posted on social media: “I’m infinitely sorry to my team-mates, for you fans, and for all the staff.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has backed Karius to bounce back from his Champions League nightmare.

“If he wants to talk then of course I will be there,” said the Belgian, who was on the bench for the game in Kiev. “Every goalkeeper can relate to him.

“I’ve been in this situation before myself and those kind of things you deal with yourself.

“The only thing I told him is that there is a reason we got to this final, and why we played in this final, so think about that.

“But of course it is very difficult to say anything to him and to let him grasp it.

“Liverpool stands for unity, Liverpool stands for ‘all together’. I think that will not only be the right ideal for Liverpool, it has always been their history and will always be their future.”

Liverpool’s goalkeeping coach John Achterberg tried to console Karius after the match.

“Obviously it is not good what happened. It was unlucky for him it happened in this game,” said the Dutchman.

“I just tried to pick his head up and show him you have to carry on with it. It is hard to take but that is life in football.”

Defender Dejan Lovren said it would be counter-productive to focus blame on Karius.

“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,” Lovren said.

“Don’t make massive stories about that. Of course it’s big because it’s a final – but everyone makes mistakes.”

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The Belgian was replaced by Brad Jones for Sunday’s 3-0 defeat against Manchester United, and the Australian will retain his place for Wednesday’s Capital One Cup tie at Bournemouth.

“I felt I had to change it because we have to find solutions throughout the squad to be better,” said Rodgers.
“I said to Simon that it’s for an indefinite period.”

Rodgers, whose side were eliminated from the Champions League in midweek, was pleased with the performance of former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Jones, 32, in the defeat at Old Trafford despite him conceding three goals.

The Northern Irishman now hopes Mignolet, 26, can recover his best form away from the spotlight.

He said: “Simon’s been fine, he’s a really good professional. I spoke to him the other day and he accepted it and understood it.

“It can sometimes happen to a keeper where you come out of the firing line and it can help you and allow you time to reflect.

“Brad’s a very capable keeper so he was always going to play in the Bournemouth game anyway.”

Rodgers took positives from Liverpool’s creativity against third-placed United, with the visitors carving out 19 chances to their hosts’ 11 and having nine shots on target – all of which were repelled by goalkeeper and man-of-the-match David De Gea.

“The most important thing for me today was we looked like scoring,” said Rodgers. “Over the course of the season we haven’t been creative enough.

“I didn’t think it was a 3-0 game. I thought we were the better team in the first half but we gave away disappointing goals.

“I think it tells you everything that their goalkeeper was man of the match. Our creativity was good today, probably the best all season.

“We know what the solutions are but we have to keep working and hopefully the confidence will return.”

Liverpool, who dropped to 10th after Tottenham defeated Swansea in Sunday’s late game, host Arsenal at Anfield next weekend before festive fixtures against Burnley (away) and Swansea (home).

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Rodgers – who dropped struggling goalkeeper Simon Mignolet for Brad Jones – can point to a succession of brilliant saves from United’s David De Gea and a controversial second goal from Juan Mata as significant factors in defeat.

This, however, will do little to ease the growing concerns for Rodgers and Liverpool, with the memory of their thrilling 3-0 win here in March – in a sequence that almost took them to their first title in 24 years – seeming an age away.

United captain Wayne Rooney gave them an early lead and Liverpool had every right to feel aggrieved when Mata headed in from a clearly offside position to take the game away from them just before half-time.

Even before United took the lead, De Gea made an important save from Raheem Sterling, denying the England youngster on four occasions as well as producing three vital contributions to stop Liverpool substitute Mario Balotelli getting his first Premier League goal for the club.

Robin van Persie’s third for United at the end of a lightning counter-attack only added to Liverpool’s pain and gave the scoreline a lopsided look given the amount of work done by De Gea.

United’s sixth successive league win continued United’s resurgence under manager Louis van Gaal and put Liverpool’s decline since they came so close to winning the Premier League into even sharper relief. Liverpool now trail third-placed United by 10 points.

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The visitors were ahead within three minutes as Martin Skrtel tapped in. But parity was restored when Eden Hazard rifled in from distance.

Chelsea deservedly went ahead before the break when a Samuel Eto’o shot crept underneath Simon Mignolet, though the visitors had chances to level.

A Mamadou Sakho header struck the crossbar, while Luis Suarez was denied what seemed like two strong penalty appeals with first John Terry and then Eto’o impeding the striker.

The last time these two sides met, Suarez, in the words of manager Brendan Rodgers, reached the lowest point in his career. The Uruguayan’s rehabilitation since he bit Branislav Ivanovic’s arm in April has been remarkable, with the striker scoring 19 goals this season.

But Chelsea shackled Liverpool’s chief tormentor in a performance which saw the Londoners out-muscle and overpower their opponents.

Rodgers’ side, who topped the table on Christmas Day, are now in fifth after defeats  by Manchester City and Chelsea, and the Merseysiders must hope Rodgers can guide his team to victory over Hull on New Year’s Day to maintain their hopes of a top-four finish.

Liverpool could not have wished for a better start as Skrtel side-footed in at the near post. The defender reacted quicker than anyone in a blue shirt as Suarez nodded on Philippe Coutinho’s free-kick.

It was a free-kick awarded for a clumsy shin-high tackle by Eto’o on Jordan Henderson. The striker was fortunate to escape without further punishment and, to Liverpool’s annoyance, he would later go on to make his presence felt in a number of ways.

Chelsea’s response to going behind was to surge forward relentlessly.

Gary Cahill went a fraction wide with a bullet of a header, Hazard had a penalty appeal turned down, while an acrobatic save from Mignolet prevented Frank Lampard from finding the top corner.

The hosts were dominating the midfield and there was a sense of inevitability about Hazard’s leveller. Although, arguably, the visitors could have cleared the danger as Oscar’s pass ricocheted off Sakho’s shin and fell kindly to the Belgian, who clinically found the top corner for his eighth goal of the season.

Hazard’s virtuosity combined with the ballast provided by Lampard, David Luiz and Willian in the middle of the pitch forced Liverpool into uncharacteristic rash passes.

A second goal was no more than Chelsea deserved, with Oscar’s cut back finding Eto’o, though Liverpool’s goalkeeper should have dealt better with the Cameroonian’s first-time shot across the goal.

The first half belonged to Chelsea, but, after the break, the visitors showed glimpses of the effervescence which had seen them score 13 goals in their last four games.

Sakho directed Jordan Henderson’s chipped pass towards the woodwork, a Suarez half-volley forced Petr Cech into action and then came the first penalty appeal as John Terry clambered on top of Suarez.

In between a flurry of Liverpool chances, Mignolet came to his team’s rescue, preventing Eto’o from grabbing his second of the match, but it was the visitors who finished the stronger.

An alert Cech dived low to stop Glen Johnson’s dipping strike and, as the game neared a conclusion, Eto’o was fortunate to escape punishment after needlessly making contact with Suarez inside the box.

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Liverpool topped the table on Christmas Day and, after Arsenal’s win at West Ham earlier on Boxing Day, would have returned to the top had they been the first team to beat City at home this season.

Philippe Coutinho gave them a first-half lead – only for Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany to swiftly head an equaliser.

City’s victory was secured in first-half injury time when Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet made a hash of his attempt to keep out Alvaro Negredo’s chip, ensuring Manuel Pellegrini’s side kept their flawless home league record.

The Northern Irishman will also question an offside decision against England winger Sterling in the first half and a late penalty claim when Suarez’s shirt was pulled by Joleon Lescott.

Another big plus for City was an excellent performance from   recently recalled keeper Joe Hart, who saved crucially from Coutinho and Jordan Henderson either side of the interval.

As a superb first half started to unfold, City were quickly into their stride and Mignolet was relieved to see a far post header from Jesus Navas glance off the woodwork to safety.

But Liverpool grew into the game and were soon demonstrating the passing and attacking movement that has become a characteristic of their game this season.

Skipper Suarez’s flick played in Sterling, who rounded Hart then stood aside as Coutinho arrived to turn the ball into an unguarded net from the angle.

Rodgers would have been desperate to see his side to at least consolidate their control but City were level inside seven minutes. Kompany escaped the close attentions of Martin Skrtel, who was tugging at his shirt, to head David Silva’s corner down and past Mignolet.

The commitment of both sides to attack made a thrilling spectacle and only outstanding work by Hart at the end of another wonderful spell of Liverpool passing ensured City stayed on level terms.

Suarez and Jordan Henderson were the creators as Coutinho pounced, but Hart was down low to his left to save.

The value of Hart’s save was emphasised in first-half stoppage time as an error from opposite number Mignolet saw City go ahead.

Samir Nasri’s perfect early pass sent Navas clear. He found Negredo, whose attempted lofted finish carried neither power, pace or height, only for Mignolet’s feeble attempt with a raised hand to make sure it dropped into the net behind him.

City, as ever, were a constant threat on the attack but as the half progressed it was Liverpool who made the better chances.

Glen Johnson’s poor control allowed Hart to block at his near post before the keeper dropped down to grab a flick from Henderson.

The best chance fell to Sterling with 18 minutes left when Suarez escaped down the left flank and set the youngster up with what looked a like a simple finish from eight yards, only for him to sky an effort hopelessly over the top.

Suarez had appeals for a penalty turned down in the closing minutes. He had his shirt tugged by Lescott but his over-dramatic reaction may have persuaded referee Lee Mason against pointing to the spot.

City are one point behind Arsenal, with Liverpool dropping to fourth behind Chelsea, meaning just three points separate the top four.

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