Liverpool’s Simon Mignolet assesses his start to the season and competition with returning Loris Karius

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Mignolet will be under pressure for his place in the Liverpool side in the coming weeks with Loris Karius returning to fitness.

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet feels he has made a decent start to the new campaign, and said he knew from last season that he would experience more competition in the side prior to signing a new contract with the club.

Summer signing Loris Karius returned to full training this week with many expecting him to be the first choice goalkeeper in the long-term having recovered from a broken hand sustained in pre-season.

The signing from Mainz is not expected to be playing in this weekend’s game against Leicester City at Anfield, when the Reds play their first home game of the season.

Mignolet is quoted in the Liverpool Echo, saying: “When I signed that new contract the club said that there would be fresh competition. That is the normal thing – that you have three competitive goalkeepers.

“There should always be competition, but only one goalkeeper can play. I can only look after my own performance on the pitch. The arrival of a new goalkeeper has changed nothing. I work hard, keep both feet on the ground and have confidence in myself.

“I think I can look back on a positive start to the season. I had a good preparation, including the 4-0 victory against Barcelona.

“I stopped a penalty against Arsenal and saved the header from Toby (Alderweireld) against Tottenham. Then at Burnley we were the better team and we had 80 per cent of the possession, but they scored twice on the counter.”

The disappointing aspect for Mignolet is that he has only kept one clean sheet so far and that was in a 5-0 win over Burton Albion in the EFL Cup when he had barely anything to do.

It is hard to pinpoint any of the goals conceded directly on Mignolet, although plenty will wonder how the defensive unit would function if there was a different man between the posts.

For now, Mignolet has an opportunity to retain his place in the side for two huge games early on in the season when they entertain the Champions on Saturday – and when the Reds travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea the following Friday evening.