Simon Mignolet remains focused in fight to be Liverpool's first-choice goalkeeper
Thursday 11 August 2016 15:45, UK
Simon Mignolet fears no competition as he prepares to start in goal for Liverpool's Premier League opener against Arsenal on Sunday.
With £4.7m new signing Loris Karius ruled out due to a broken hand - the path is clear for the Belgian to focus on his own game and ignore his rivals for the jersey.
"You have to keep your head down, work hard and make sure you put in the performances yourself. You don't look over your shoulder to anybody else," Mignolet told his club's official website.
"It's about making sure you put in your own best possible performance every day on the training pitch and on a matchday."
Although he laments Karius' injury, Mignolet is confident there is still much to learn from former the experienced Alex Manninger, who was drafted in last month on a temporary contract.
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"The dynamic [between the goalkeepers] is really good," he said.
"We get on really well and we're working really well together with the goalkeeping coach. We have had a few young guys up as well to help us out. The goalies' union is there and is strong."
The 28-year-old reckons Liverpool's Europa League final defeat against Sevilla may help the Reds improve on their eighth-placed finish in the Premier League last season.
He said: "I think the fact that we're not in Europe this year will get us in a better position for the Premier League games, like it did in the year I arrived when we finished second. That's a good thing.
"Liverpool has a history of winning trophies and playing in Europe. That's where we have to be again and we'll try to do that."
