Simon Mignolet has a message for Jurgen Klopp after being benched at Liverpool

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The Belgian’s shaky performances have finally caught up with him this season, with Loris Karius instilled in his place.

Simon Mignolet has told Limburg TV that is not planning to leave Liverpool in the January transfer window but insists that he will not accept his new role as back-up to Loris Karius.

The Belgian had failed to convince on Merseyside since arriving from Sunderland, with a series of high profile errors, often underpinned by his alarming inability to deal with aerial balls and set pieces, costing Liverpool a number of goals and points in recent seasons.

Ironically, however, the upgrade many Liverpool fans had been crying out took Mignolet’s place in the starting XI just as he was starting to finally assert himself with some notably assured performances this season.

Furthermore, former Mainz ‘keeper Karius, who arrived with a reputation as one of the best young shot-stoppers in German football, has struggled to demonstrate that he is much of an improvement between the sticks, seemingly sharing Mignolet’s inability to command his penalty box while his determination to play out from the back, apparently one of the main reasons why Jurgen Klopp handpicked him in the summer, has failed to convince.

And the currently benched Mignolet has said that, while his marginalisation will not push him out of Anfield, he is doing all he can to fight his way back into the starting XI.

“I’ve never been on the bench in my career!” the 28-year-old told Belgian broadcaster Limburg TV.

“I don’t want that and I won’t accept it either. I will keep fighting to return as the first-choice goalkeeper.

“It’s not right [to suggest leaving Liverpool] – that’s for the future. I am fully focused on Liverpool.”

Strangely, Mignolet never quite managed to replicate the performances that made him one of the Premier League’s most eye-catching goalkeepers on Wearside, with his apparent determination to come for each and every cross instilling a culture of fear in Liverpool’s backline.