Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Simon Mignolet's time as the club's No 1 goalkeeper is definitely over for now as Loris Karius assumes the mantle.
Mignolet will start the EFL Cup fourth round tie against Tottenham but he has not started a Premier League match since September, with his most recent fixture coming against Chelsea in a 2-1 win.
Since then Karius has been afforded the lead role in goal.
The German signed from Bundesliga side FSV Mainz 05 in the summer, with the expectation that he would challenge Mignolet for the starting spot.
Karius' progress was halted however when he broke his hand and missed the early weeks of the season.
But since returning to fitness, Mignolet has been relegated to the bench and that is a status quo Klopp has confirmed.
"In this moment we have a No 1 and that is Loris Karius. That's the situation. I cannot leave them in doubt. After the last international break I spoke to both of them and we made this decision. That's the ranking. Loris No 1, Simon No 2," he said in his press conference.
Mignolet's place had been under-threat for some time after a number of errors and indifferent performances.
Last season, the Belgian made the joint-most defensive errors of any player in the Premier League, with four of his six mistakes leading to a goal according to statistics by Squawka.
He even had his approach scrutinised by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.
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