‘World-class’: Star Liverpool sold for £6m ‘among the top five on the planet’

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It’s certainly been a good couple of days for one-time Liverpool goalkeepers.

On Tuesday, Kamil Grabara saved a Riyad Mahrez penalty as Copenhagen kept a clean sheet against Manchester City. 24 hours later, Simon Mignolet rolled back the years once again, the veteran shot-stopper almost single-handedly securing Club Brugge a place in the Champions League knock-out stages for the first time in their history during a tense 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid. 

The one-time Anfield glovesman showcased the kind of agility not often associated with a man of his age while denying Antoine Griezmann either side of the interval at the Wanda Metropolitano. The 34-year-old then stuck his face in the way of a goal-bound Alvaro Morata shot.

And, with 91 minutes on the clock, came the best of the lot; a sprawling, point-blank save to deny Matheus Cunha what looked like a certain winner. 

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet shines in the Champions League

“What Simon Mignolet showed today, again, keeping a clean sheet for the fourth time, that’s fantastic,” beams Club Brugge’s general manager Vincent Mannaert (VTM). 

Four clean sheets from four games; Club Brugge are the only side not to have conceded a single goal in the group-stages. Much of that is down to Mignolet’s cat-like reflexes and granite-carved presence; the Belgium international taking his game to a whole new level after leaving Liverpool in the summer of 2019.

“At the moment, Mignolet is one of the best goalkeepers in the world,” Mannaert adds. “We could count on a world-class goalkeeper. Belgium have (Real Madrid’s) Thibaut Courtois and Simon Mignolet, who are among the top five goalkeepers on the planet.  

“What he has shown in the first four games, it’s great. With his performances and his attitude, he gives confidence to the young players. He’s more than an excellent goalkeeper. He’s someone who is capable of raising the level of the group.

“For me, there is no discussion (that he deserves to win Belgium’s Golden Shoe award, given to the very best player in the country).” 

When Liverpool accepted Club Brugge’s £6 million offer three years ago, it seemed to herald the end of Mignolet’s time at the very top level. But write off Mignolet, or Brugge for that matter, at your peril.