Simon Mignolet to start for Liverpool against Chelsea, says Jurgen Klopp
Virgil van Dijk faces late fitness test for Wednesday's game v Chelsea
Tuesday 25 September 2018 14:32, UK
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has praised goalkeeper Simon Mignolet for his attitude after failing to secure a move away in the summer, and confirmed he will start against Chelsea on Wednesday.
The Belgium international was keen to follow Loris Karius - who joined Besiktas on a two-year loan deal - out of the door at Anfield, with Barcelona one of the clubs interested in signing him.
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Mignolet was unable to engineer a move away, and is yet to appear for the Reds this season following the arrival of Brazil No 1 Alisson Becker from Roma.
However, he is due to make his first appearance in the Carabao Cup third-round fixture at Anfield on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports, in what Klopp insists will be a "very strong" Liverpool starting XI.
Klopp said: "He has been brilliant. It was as you can imagine - transfer window time is one of two moments in the year when you can make decisions about going somewhere and, yes, Simon would have been ready to go to another club, to
be the No 1, wherever in the world. That was clear.
"But we couldn't do it, and since then he has been brilliant. He trains fantastic. It's all good and he deserves that game absolutely tomorrow. I'm really happy to give him that opportunity."
Virgil van Dijk is a doubt after being substituted in Saturday's 3-0 Premier League win over Southampton with a rib injury.
Asked about the Dutch international's fitness, Klopp said: "He is much better.
"It is painful, nothing else. So we will see how we deal with that. It's not too serious, but it's not nothing, so that needs to settle for sure. We'll see how he comes here today and will make a decision about him."
