22 Apr 2017

Anfield Update: Klopp confirms 'brilliant' international 'will' be a 'Liverpool player' next season

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Liverpool will have a new goalkeeper next season to challenge Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius.

During his press conference on Thursday, Klopp dismissed the possibility of signing a new goalkeeper this summer, claiming that he already has the 'highest quality goalkeepers' at his disposal.

Klopp also confirmed that one of Liverpool's on-loan stars will also be returning to the club:

“Danny Ward is at Huddersfield and playing a brilliant season. He is our player so we will bring him back so there is competition".

Huddersfield are currently fourth in the Championship table, and are well placed to make the play-offs. Ward is an everpresent in the league this season, and compared to Mignolet, his stats are creditable:

* Ward: 49 GC in 41 apps (One every 74 mins). 10 clean sheets.

* Mignolet: 29 GC in 26 apps (One every 80 mins. 7 clean sheets.

Danny Ward is also gunning for Mignolet's place, and in a recent interview, he mused:

"[It's my] ambition to be Liverpool's first-choice. I have a self-belief where I think I can play at the highest level. Ideally that's at Liverpool, and long term, I would love to be their No 1".

Ward is better off staying where he is, especially if Huddersfield win promotion to the Premier League. Irrespective of his form this season, Ward will be Liverpool's third-choice goalkeeper, which means he'll basically never play. It's hard enough keeping two goalkeepers happy, but three? Forget it.

In my view, it's delusional to think that Ward will be ahead of Karius in the pecking order, let alone Mignolet. Karius is Klopp's guy, and if Mignolet tanks, he'll be next in line. Ward needs to keep playing to continue his development, and just being in the squad to provide 'competition' will be a retrograde step.



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