Liverpool’s number one topic never gets old. With Mignolet, Karius, and Ward staying for the season, being the first choice keeper seems to be one of the hardest positions to secure.
A position the Red’s struggled to cover since the loss of the short Spaniard, Pepe Reina. Mignolet, being the first of the three keepers who was brought in to take over from Reina.
Mignolet displayed more than enough promise at Sunderland, before making his switch to Anfield. In 2012, the big Belgian received the North-East Football Writers’ Association’s Player of the Year, making his arrival at Anfield all the more welcomed.
Simon Mignolet’s first game, involved a match-winning penalty and a pointblank, rebound save to deny Stoke a point in the embers of the game, on opening day.
A Reds hero in the making. From that day, the Liverpool number one and the rest of the Reds, pushed on and mounted one of their best title challenges, in a while.
However, the Belgian knew exactly what was needed in order for his form to drop, get the worst out of the fans, and drop valuable points, singlehandedly.
Simon went on one of his worst spells in a Reds jersey and was slowly becoming a nemesis among the fans. But all was not lost, somehow, Mignolet managed to bag the Player of the Year award for Liverpool in the 2014/2015 season.
Raising a few eyebrows with this accolade, yes, but it proved just how bad a season Liverpool had following the loss of star player, Luis Suarez. Both the defence and attack were under a lot of scrutiny.
Current form should make Mignolet first choice until any of the other two displays better games.
The stopper has struggled to show consistency between the sticks. We’ve had divided opinions on many occasions. Safe to say, the defensive problems stretches far beyond LFC’s goalkeeping issues.
However, since being heavily linked with a move out and having a threat posed by potential replacement, Loris Karius, Mignolet has since stepped up his game, emphatically!
Give credit where it’s due and you’ll have to take your hat off to Migs. In his last few games, when we needed our first team players to come to the party, each of them played a part to get us back in the top four.
A game to point out in the comeback season, was Mignolet’s performance verse, Stoke City. What a display! Yes the Brazilian duo came on to change the deficit for the Reds.
Game winning goals, matched by outstanding saves, granted him praises from the fans and the manager alike.
Thereafter, the stopper put any chance of Karius getting back to being the first choice over Mignolet to bed.
Commanding in his box, shot stopping at its best, right up to being more confident with the ball at his feet. Nothing says, the Belgian should be taken out the poles when the first game gets underway.
Nothing to write home about from Karius’s first season, but certainly has the ability to improve and become a great keeper for the Reds in the future.
Karius arrived last season from German side ,Mainz 05. Known for his outstanding distribution and good awareness in the box. In my opinion, he was setup for greatness.
Most noticeably, this was not the case at Liverpool and failure set in rather early. Really had high hopes for this young man when he joined the Reds. Regrettably, it was not to be and the then new goalkeeper, struggled as much as Klopp’s other keeper.
A keeper with great distribution is pivotal to Liverpool’s game. It’s no secret the Red’s play out from the back and the need for Karius to get back between the sticks is vital.
He has the best feet out of the three goalkeepers set to stay at Anfield for the up coming season and fortunately, he has so much time on his side.
We cannot ignore the fact, he was voted second best goalkeeper a couple of seasons ago.
With the competition added with Ward back, all three should have lifted their game by the time the season commences.
The Welsh hero who got all the praises from Euro to Huddersfield’s playoff glory to get into the English Premier League. Ward adds much-needed depth to LFC’s defence.
Another young keeper with time on his side, but another keeper looking for regular first team football. Ward will apply positive pressure, to both Mignolet and Karius.
In a perfect world, it would make sense to have Ward go out on loan, or even Karius go out on loan. Unfortunately, Liverpool’s defence is far from perfect and we are in need of all our senior stoppers.
Ward has shown he has what it takes to become a great first choice, for club and country, but the amount of top flight football, could be his downfall.
With Ward, I would certainly use him in the domestic cup matches. He has to prove himself and those are the games where he should mount his challenge to become LFC’s number one.
Liverpool are notorious for going into extra time and penalty shootouts. Dramatic is our name. After recent success from the young Welshman, he should be making the cup games over the other two, without question.
Next: Robertson on brink of signing
Each of these keepers have what It takes to become a first choice stopper at most clubs I would go on to say. To have them play each other for a spot, is nothing but healthy competition.
Playing on all fronts this season, we need our best to be at their best. Having all three first team keepers a major factor for Liverpool.