Loris Karius Usurps Simon Mignolet, will Start Against Hull City

When Liverpool signed Loris Karius from FSV Mainz over the summer, triggering the 23-year-old’s £4.7M release clause, the consensus was that Jürgen Klopp had both found a bargain and his new starting goalkeeper. A broken hand in pre-season, though, meant that Simon Mignolet got to start the season in goal.

However, for most, the only question was when and not if Karius would take over, and with the German returning to action against Derby County in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, that question took to the fore this week. It’s not been answered, with James Pearce of The Liverpool Echo reporting the Karius will start tomorrow.

Many had felt Mignolet, who had been impressive against Chelsea last week, might hold on to the starting job in the league for at least a little while longer, but Klopp has chosen not to prolong the inevitable. Either this weekend or in another week or in a month, it was only a matter of time before Karius took over.

It will be a bitter pill for Mignolet to swallow given he did impress in his last outing, but for as long as he continued to start, the only question would have been how much longer Klopp would wait to make the switch or which mistake or lapse in concentration by the goalkeeper might lead to it.

Now, that uncertainty at least is gone. Karius will start against Hull City. Mignolet will have to wait for a chance either in the domestic cups or due to injury to get another shot.