New Liverpool signing will challenge this player, claims Reds coach

Loris Karius will push Simon Mignolet in the battle to become Jurgen Klopp’s first-choice Liverpool goalkeeper, according to Reds coach John Achterberg.

Klopp signed the Mainz goalkeeper in a £4.7m deal in May despite Belgium international Simon Mignolet signing a new five-year contract in January.

Germany Under-21 international Karius was handed the Liverpool number one shirt after putting pen to paper on a reported four-year deal with the Anfield outfit.

Mignolet has been Liverpool’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper since the Belgian moved to the 18-time English champions from Sunderland under Brendan Rodgers in 2013.

Liverpool coach Achterberg believes Mignolet will have fierce competition from Klopp’s first summer signing in the 2016/17 season.

“Loris a good young keeper who will come in to compete and show what he’s about,” Achterberg told Liverpool Echo.

“He had an excellent season in Germany. I’ve watched him closely since 2014.

“I try to follow every keeper aged 15 to 27 in every league across Europe and the rest of the world.

“Every club needs competition for places as that brings out the best in players. It’s normal in football for players to be fighting for places.

“As well as Simon and Loris, there’s Danny Ward, who was excellent for Wales in their opening game of the Euros.

“We’ve also got some talented young keepers coming through so it’s good times.”

Liverpool lost 3-1 to Sevilla in the Europa League final in Basel last month despite Daniel Sturridge scoring in the first half against the La Liga side.

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Klopp was named as Brendan Rodgers’s successor in October after a poor start to the Premier League season.