Simon Mignolet vows to keep fighting to earn his place back at Liverpool

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Mignolet featured in Liverpool’s win over Tottenham in the EFL Cup, but has recently been dropped in favour of Loris Karius.

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has vowed to fight for the number one spot in the side after manager Jurgen Klopp stated earlier on this week that the Belgian is number two to Loris Karius, the Liverpool Echo reports.

Mignolet started the first five league games for the Reds season, as well as the EFL Cup win over Burton Albion in August while Karius was recovering from a broken hand he sustained on the pre-season tour of the United States.

However with the summer signing from Mainz now fit he has been handed the number one spot. Mignolet, who featured in the EFL Cup win over Tottenham on Tuesday, has vowed not to give up.

He is quoted in the Liverpool Echo, saying: “I don’t want to be a number two, that’s clear. I want to play. I will keep fighting to get my place back.

“I will never give up fighting firstly because that’s not in my character to just give up.

“Secondly because I am not in a situation where I can sit on the bench. I’m 28 years old and I want to play week in week out.

“So I’ll work hard and I’ll never give up – giving up is not what I want to do. I see it as a challenge that I can overcome. Hopefully it will be a fair challenge based on performances put in on the pitch.”

It does appear to be something of an uphill battle for Mignolet. Klopp has gone out and found his own goalkeeper who is only 23 and has plenty of time to develop, and it seems that only an injury or a string of mistakes will mean Mignolet regains his place in the side.

One cannot doubt the professionalism from Mignolet, and he is certainly showing that he is eager to play and will prepare accordingly. But some would argue he had his chance to nail down his starting place since his arrival at Anfield in 2013, and mistakes of his own have cost him his place in the side.

However, Mignolet does mention his age and desire to play week in, week out and one gets the feeling that if he does not manage to get himself back into the side between now and the end of the season, he may look to move on next summer.