Mignolet brought in as competition for Reina at Liverpool

Liverpool's manager Brendan Rodgers has told reporters that the signing of Simon Mignolet is to ensure that current number 1 goalkeeper Pepe Reina will be kept on his toes for the new season. Sunderland and Liverpool agreed a £9 million fee for the keeper last week.

Despite widespread reports that Pepe Reina would be joining Barcelona this summer, Northern Irish manager Brendan Rodgers now took a moment to shed some lights on his plans for the season ahead. Rodgers wants Mignolet and Reina to both do battle to win the coveted #1 jersey at Anfield.


"One of the things we're trying to build is a competitive squad," the Liverpool manager said. "Our squad was very thin last year and it was great we were able to introduce a few young players from our academy but it's very important that we have competition in every position and that wasn't always the case.

"Pepe Reina and I went out for a meal a couple of months before the end of the season and I told him exactly what we were going to do, which was to provide real competition in that area. 

"He was fully aware of my intention over the course of the last few months. It certainly wouldn't be a surprise to Pepe.

"Pepe is a fantastic goalkeeper but Simon Mignolet is a player that has done really well. He's also part of an emerging Belgium squad that has come into a golden era. He's very much a part of that."