Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that goalkeeper Simon Mignolet will start Wednesday’s League Cup clash with Chelsea .
The Belgian comes in for summer signing Alisson Becker for the cup clash at Anfield.
“The only position I will confirm today is Simon [Mignolet]. Simon will start,” confirmed Klopp. “All the rest, you have to wait until tomorrow. But it will be a good team, believe me!
“Each game is an opportunity. It’s all about the situation, is the player ready, all the things you have to consider when you think about a line-up. It will be a very good side.
Mignolet was left bemused by the club decision to block a move away from Anfield in the summer, while allowing Loris Karius to join Besiktas.
But when quizzed on the Belgian’s attitude since, Klopp was full of praise for him No2.
“Brilliant,” insisted Klopp. “In a transfer window, it’s one of two moments in a year where you can think about going somewhere. And yes Simon would have been ready to go to another club to be the No.1. That was clear, but we couldn’t do it. Since then he’s brilliant, he trains fantastic, and he deserves that game tomorrow absolutely. I’m really happy to give him that opportunity.”
The rib injury sustained by defender Virgil Van Dijk all but rules him out of the clash, with Klopp insisting it needs ‘time to settle’.
“He [Van Dijk] is much better. It’s still a bit painful, and nothing else. We will see how we deal with that. It’s how we thought already, not too serious, but it’s not nothing. It needs to settle. I will speak to him today and see how he is, then make a decision about him.
Elsewhere, the German offered some positive news regarding Dejan Lovren’s rehabilitation, hinting that he could fill in for Van Dijk, though the match could be too soon for Adam Lallana and Divock Origi.
“Dejan looks actually quite good. Trained completely normal now, four times. He looks ready.
“Divock [Origi] is not far away but it’s an ankle thing, and we will be very careful. The ankle was his problem after the Everton game years ago, so he will be back, I’m pretty sure next week or so.
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“Adam [Lallana] trained with the team, not the full session, but will now come back step-by-step. He’s in a good way. Dom is completely back.
