Football
Glenn Price, Liverpool correspondent 7y

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: Loris Karius is club's No. 1 goalkeeper

LIVERPOOL -- Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Loris Karius is Liverpool's first choice goalkeeper but said Simon Mignolet would start against Tottenham in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.

Karius, signed from Bundesliga side Mainz in the summer, has started the last five games after missing the start of the season with a broken hand.

The 23-year-old Germany international has been told by Klopp that he is first choice.

But the Liverpool boss, asked at a news conference on Monday whether Mignolet would return for the game against Spurs at Anfield, said: "The chance is 100 percent.

"That's only if nothing happens in training -- but then he will play 100 percent."

Klopp, who has confirmed he will make several changes against Spurs, said Mignolet had been "a real professional" in the way he had reacted to being told he would be backup keeper.

"This is the ranking, if you want, in this moment, Loris is the No. 1 and Simon is in this moment the No. 2," he added.

"We've had a few talks about it because I didn't have the perfect answer for him [Mignolet].

"I couldn't say: 'You are bad and he is good, that's why he's playing.' This is what I call a luxury problem.

"We had to make a decision, and I made it. Of course he was not happy about this, but he is a very good professional.

"He's still hard working and improving and doing all that he needs to do."

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