Klopp hails Liverpool hero Mignolet

Simon Mignolet has attracted a lot of criticism at Liverpool this season but Jurgen Klopp paid tribute to his first-choice keeper after he made a string of vital saves against Stoke City on Saturday.

Jonathan Walters had put the Potters ahead, but Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino turned the game on its head when they came off the bench to fire the Reds into the lead.

But Mignolet still played a major part, keeping out Marko Arnautovic and Saido Berahino with tremendous reflexes.

Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

And Klopp hailed the Belgian and compared his saves to scoring a goal, such was their importance at the bet365 Stadium.

“Defending is about organisation and everything, but the goal we conceded – we lose one challenge and they run in behind and the cross [comes in], it was pretty similar to the goal we conceded to Stoke at home, a header in the near-post area.

“It was a big chance from Arnautovic, when he could run in behind and immediately with his pass, the fantastic sliding of [Berahino], and then this reaction, that’s what you need to be successful, your goalkeeper to make saves like this.

“You can’t expect it each week, but when he is doing it, then it’s like scoring a goal.”