‘Klopp must start Karius vs Chelsea’
Ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has slammed current ‘keeper Simon Mignolet, claiming that the Belgian was the one at fault for the Lucas error that gifted Leicester a goal on Saturday.
In a game that Liverpool ended up winning 4-1, Jamie Vardy was handed the easiest goal he will ever score before the half time break, with Lucas collecting the ball from Mignolet at a goal kick, coming under pressure from Shinji Okazaki, and accidentally squaring to Vardy inside the penalty area for a tap-in.
Lucas’ name was chanted by the Kop for his error, but Kirkland claims that Mignolet took a very unnecessary risk by giving it to Lucas, and therefore was also at error for the goal.
“There’s so much made now about playing out from the back, which I understand,” Kirkland says, “But there’s times to do it and the time to pass the ball along your own byline, that’s not the time to do it.
“I don’t care if you’re four, five-nil up, whatever, it’s taking unnecessary risks and you might get away with it a few times but you’re always going to get caught with it.”
Kirkland talks after his spell at Wigan, where the Latics were often under the pressures of a relegation battle in the Premier League.
“We had the same situation at Wigan under Roberto Martinez,” recalls Kirkland.
“He wanted us to play out all the time from the back and in the end we got relegated because the better teams just pick you off.
They’ll score goals, they’ll set up to how you play and then they’ll just press you.”
Liverpool of course put the setback behind them at Anfield but it might have been different. “That was an unnecessary goal it was caused from something that shouldn’t happen.”
Because of this, he believes Mignolet’s time at Liverpool should be up, and that new signing Loris Karius, who is now fit after breaking his hand in pre-season, should step into the side for the Reds’ away trip to Chelsea on Friday.
Kirkland is expecting good things from the new keeper: “I’m looking forward to seeing him.
“A lot’s been said about him, I’ve seen bits of him – he’s very cool on the ball, he’s very calm, he’s good with his feet, he’s confident in his own 18-yeard box, he comes and takes things.
“Hopefully he’ll be a good fit for Liverpool.”
By Ben Kelly – @benkelly_10
