LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Friday, January 5, 2018: Liverpool's unused goalkeeper Simon Mignolet before the FA Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Everton FC, the 230th Merseyside Derby, at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Jurgen Klopp admits Simon Mignolet is unhappy to be No. 2 – but wouldn’t want it any other way

With Simon Mignolet describing the decision to loan Loris Karius out and not him as “bizarre,” Jurgen Klopp has addressed the situation with Liverpool’s No. 2.

Karius left the Reds to join Besiktas on a two-year deal that is expected to become permanent in 2020, after Mignolet failed to secure a move to the Turkish SuperLig side.

Napoli and Fulham were also interested in the Belgian’s services, but were seemingly deterred by either the club or the player’s financial demands.

This leaves Mignolet as deputy to Liverpool’s new first-choice goalkeeper Alisson, and speaking to Het Laatste Nieuws last week he said it is “bizarre that Karius is [on loan], while I also had options.”

Responding to Mignolet’s suggestion, Klopp sympathised with the 30-year-old—and welcomed his desire to play.

“That’s true he will not depart, of course not,” he told reporters at Melwood.

“I would say, in general, discussing your individual problems in public doesn’t make too much sense.

“It’s better to speak to each other, I’m a big believer in that. It was still OK [though].

“But of course it’s actually the one time—we’re all human beings—if he would be happy to be No. 2, I wouldn’t really know him.

“He’s a top professional, a top goalkeeper, and of course he’s not happy to be No. 2.

“But in the end there are worse things in the world—it’s pretty good pay, by the way, at Liverpool!”

But while Klopp insisted he wouldn’t want Mignolet to be content with his role as second choice, he reiterated that not discussing the situation with him was not the ideal approach.

“In the first moment you understand decisions or not, it’s always better to talk to me about that directly than in newspapers,” he said.

“Because in this case Matt (McCann, Liverpool’s press officer) told me, but usually I wouldn’t be aware of it. It doesn’t make too much sense.

“If you want to tell me something, say it directly—that helps.”

Mignolet is expected to take up his position on the bench for Saturday’s trip to Leicester City, with Alisson in line to make his fourth consecutive start.

But this is likely to come after a discussion with the manager, who will be eager to ensure his continued commitment following a frustrating summer.

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