Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet will return to Liverpool s starting line-up for the EFL Cup match against Chelsea, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed.
Alisson s arrival during the close season has consigned the Belgium international to the sidelines this term, while he lost his starting spot to Loris Karius – now on loan at Besiktas – in 2017-18.
But Klopp confirmed at a news conference that Mignolet will be in the first XI when Chelsea arrive at Anfield for Wednesday s third-round game.
The only position I will confirm that we will change is Simon will start, he said.
All the rest, you have to wait, but it will be a good team, believe me.
Klopp went on to praise Mignolet s application and hard work while accepting his new reality as understudy to the second-most expensive goalkeeper of all time.
He has been brilliant. As you can imagine, transfer window time is one of two moments in a year when you can make a decision about going somewhere or bringing someone in, said the German.
Simon would have been ready to go to another club as the number one but we couldn t do it. Since then he s [been] brilliant.
He trains fantastic and he deserves this game. I am really glad to give him this opportunity.
Simon Mignolet will start LFC s tie with tomorrow night.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC)
Virgil van Dijk is unlikely to be risked after aggravating a rib injury during Saturday s 3-0 Premier League win over Southampton and might be replaced at centre-back by Dejan Lovren – the Croatian World Cup finalist now back in full training following a pelvis problem.
Dejan looks actually quite good, Klopp said. He trained completely four times now and he had a very intense period before that with the fitness guys, 10 days or so. He looks ready.
With regards to further injury updates, Klopp added: Divock Origi is not far away but it s an ankle thing, a very unfortunate situation, and we will be very careful.
Adam Lallana trained with the team, not a full session but he will come back step by step. For Chelsea I do not know but it will not be long. He is in a good way.
