Liverpool's Simon Mignolet accepts back-up role to Alisson
Monday 28 January 2019 08:42, UK
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet admits he finds it easier to accept being back-up to Alisson rather than Loris Karius.
Mignolet lost his position as first-choice at Anfield after being dropped midway through the 2017-18 season, with Karius preferred for the remainder of the campaign.
However, after gifting Real Madrid two goals in the Champions League final defeat in Kiev, Karius was loaned out to Besiktas, with Alisson arriving in a £67m move from Roma.
Alisson immediately became the No 1 goalkeeper at Anfield and Mignolet says he can accept being understudy to the Brazil international, with Liverpool currently top of the Premier League.
"Yeah, I can accept it easier now," Mignolet told the Liverpool Echo. "It's also the fact that the team is playing so well. Ali has been so important for the team.
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"He has shown his strengths. He's up there with the top five 'keepers in the world, if not the best.
"He's a very natural goalkeeper. He's got a lot of talent and he's very fluent, he doesn't really think about stuff. It's all natural to him.
"He's playing as the No 1 for Brazil in front of Manchester City's goalkeeper - that says enough, really. I can accept that slightly better."
Mignolet believes he has helped Alisson adapt to the Premier League and says he is improving his own game by working with the former Roma goalkeeper.
"Ali and I work well together. We have a very good relationship," said Mignolet. "I've picked up a few things from him and he's picked up a few things from me.
"I've been playing in the Premier League for 10 years now and certain things are different here compared to abroad. He asks me some questions and I try to answer them.
"He's very calm on the ball and I try to replicate that. I think I showed it in the FA Cup game against Wolves. We can bounce off each other and learn off each other.
"I respect him, not just for the player he is, but also for the person he is."
