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Liverpool's goalkeeping problem mostly went away after Simon Mignolet's restoration to the number one spot during the away trip to Burnley. That performance in and of itself was not the most inspiring, but the Belgian has steadily improved since that time to the point, and now finishes the season on far firming footing at the club than he was five months ago. It's been a dramatic turnaround, one that arguably saved Liverpool plenty of points as they went on a run that saw them come within a few points of the top four before sliding off over the season's final two months.
The same can't be said for backup Brad Jones, whose time as the starter went about as poorly as possible. Brought in to give Mignolet a break during a bad run of form, the Australian was as bad, if not worse, than the man he replaced, and his injury during the Burnley match was the last meaningful part he played in Liverpool's season, with third-choice Danny Ward preferred on the bench.
So it was a little confusing when news of a contract extension for Jones leaked, even if it was clear that he would be agreeing to be largely third-choice after the club (hopefully) adds to their ranks in goal this summer. Those rumors quickly fell apart, however, as news emerged that the parties weren't able to figure out a deal to keep him on Merseyside, with Liverpool's interest falling through, and Jones confirmed that he'll be moving on at season's end.
Posting on Instagram, the 33-year-old thanked fans for their support during what's been a tumultuous time personally at Liverpool, and indicated that his career will have to continue elsewhere. Best of luck to him wherever he catches on, and hopefully he finds playing and success at his next stopping point.
