Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Simon Mignolet will be Liverpool’s goalkeeper for Tuesday night’s League Cup clash with Leeds United.
The Belgian has been demoted to the role of backup following the arrival of Loris Karius from Mainz 05, and hasn’t featured in the Premier League since September 16.
Karius has conceded just six goals in eight league games for the Reds, keeping clean sheets against Manchester United, Southampton and, most recently, Sunderland on Saturday afternoon.
However, Mignolet remains Klopp’s first choice for cup competitions, with Tuesday night’s quarter-final his next opportunity to impress.
Speaking at Melwood on Monday afternoon, Klopp said that “Simon will play if nothing happens, 100 percent.”
This will be Mignolet’s eighth appearance of the season, with another two coming in the League Cup, against Burton Albion in the second round and Tottenham in the round of 16.
The ex-Black Cats stopper is likely to be one of a number of changes on Tuesday night, with Klopp having made 11 alterations for the previous round against Spurs.
However, as he continued he was reluctant to concede whether he would follow the same route against Leeds.
“The plan is to find a lineup to win the game tomorrow,” he insisted.
“We don’t want to rest somebody who doesn’t need a rest.”
One player who could make an appearance is academy forward Ben Woodburn, who came on for his debut in the closing stages of Liverpool’s victory over Sunderland.
Woodburn, who shone under Klopp during pre-season, looks to be edging closer to the first-team setup, though the German was coy when asked whether the 17-year-old could make his full debut against Leeds.
“Ben is a wonderful boy, but I’m not sure,” he explained.
“There are a lot of signs, very positive signs. Not just with him, but others too.
“Sometimes we have to show it. It was a good moment, not only for Ben but all the other boys in the academy. There is a way.
“As long as you’re here, train hard, work hard, everything can be possible.”
Woodburn won’t be the only youngster hoping to feature against Leeds, with both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ovie Ejaria likely to come into Klopp’s thinking at Anfield.
Furthermore, peripheral figures such as Ragnar Klavan, Lucas Leiva, Alberto Moreno, Kevin Stewart and Marko Grujic can all hope to join Mignolet in the starting lineup.
Fan Comments