RODGERS: REINA MUST ACCEPT MIGNOLET RIVALRY

Brendan Rodgers says creating competition for places is key to Liverpool’s summer plans and feels Simon Mignolet's arrivals will improve Pepe Reina’s performances.

Mignolet moved to Anfield from Sunderland for a reported £9 million fee in June before outlining his ambition to usurp the current No.1 - who has missed just 20 league games in eight seasons.

"That was the idea for the summer [competition for places]," Rodgers told talkSPORT.


"Our recruitment team did a brilliant job when we sat down at the end of the last season on where we can strengthen the squad and build that competition in the group. We were very thin in the group last year.”

"Simon Mignolet's been a top keeper for the last few seasons now in the Premier League and Pepe Reina's been here for a number of years and been an outstanding keeper but in every position on the field there has to be competition to push people's performances."

Rodgers, although, has no regrets regarding the departure of Andy Carroll to West Ham, insisting his now-permanent departure has aided Luis Suarez's attacking output.

"That was a decision that needed to be made,” he said. "Luis benefited from that and went on to have a terrific season.

"Andy went out and did really well on loan and obviously [West Ham manager Sam Allardyce] came in and wanted to buy him.

“He's a good, big guy, he'll go away and do really well for West Ham. As a manager you have to make a decision and that's what I did."