Under-fire Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has signed a new contract extension, securing his future until at least 2021 and ending speculation that he would be shown the door.
The Belgium international’s indifferent form of late has polarised Reds fans while the media has been scathing in its criticism. But manager Jurgen Klopp has kept faith with the 27-year-old, offering him an improved contract.
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“I’m very pleased that I can be at Anfield and a part of Liverpool for a long future,” Mignolet told Liverpoolfc.com. “I’m happy to commit my future to LFC.
“I know with a long-term contract you get more responsibility – and I want to take up that role because I’m the sort of character that wants to be a leader, wants to speak in the dressing room and wants to help the defence.
“I’ll try to work hard together with the goalkeeping coach and staff here, who are behind me and have given their confidence with a new contract.
“I would like to thank them for that but you can’t really do that with words, you have to do that with performances on the pitch and that’s what I’ll try to show.”
Mignolet joined the Reds in June 2013 and has made 122 appearances between the sticks since his switch to Anfield from Sunderland.
He made a strong start to the current season, keeping three consecutive clean sheets. But Liverpool’s good start stalled and while the keeper helped the Reds to a draw at Everton, Brendan Rodgers’ reign as manager came to an end.
In stepped Klopp, who, despite the keeper’s eccentricities, took an immediate liking to the Belgian.
Liverpool ended 2015 in seventh place, Mignolet’s class earning his side 16 clean sheets, the best in the Premier League. But despite his heroics, the criticism continued relentlessly, especially after the pulsating 3-3 draw against Arsenal when Mignolet was castigated for conceding two preventable goals – the first a near-post strike by Aaron Ramsey and the second from a corner that went in off the Belgian’s legs.
But rather than chastising his keeper, Klopp defended him and instead blamed the side for a collective loss of concentration.
“If you’re going to win and want to win against Arsenal you cannot have this lack of concentration,” Klopp told ESPN TV. “(And) on the set play he (Mignolet) needs help from all the players. Set plays we have to defend it better.”
As the criticism mounted and the papers suggested Klopp was chasing a new keeper – including the likes of Stoke’s Jack Butland, Belgian Guillaume Hubert and a host of players in the Bundesliga – the German surprisingly recalled youngster Danny Ward from an impressive loan spell at Scottish Premier League side Aberdeen. The 22-year-old was immediately named on the bench ahead of the blunder-prone Adam Bogdan for the 3-3 draw with Arsenal, prompting speculation that he could quickly find himself involved in first team action.
But Ward wasn’t buying into any such claims.
“You don’t to try and run before can walk,” he told the Daily Post. “Obviously it would be nice to try and get a game in any competition for this club. But as I said, take it day-by-day, work hard and catch the eye.
“I think (the manager) is just expecting me to come back and obviously challenge with Simon and Adam and train as hard as I can, like I have done ever since I signed for Liverpool, and hopefully I will catch the eye.”
Ward’s return was welcomed by Mignolet, who told Liverpoolfc.com that because the goalkeepers are a small unit they need to “keep each other sharp”.
“There’s only one who can play and therefore the one who is not playing will be disappointed,” he said.
The line has been drawn in the sand and while his contract extension puts Mignolet in the box seat, only time will tell what comes of the competition between keepers.
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