Simon Mignolet: What I have to do now I've signed new five-and-a-half year Liverpool deal

SIMON MIGNOLET has admitted he will have to take up more responsibility after signing a new five-and-half-a-year contract with Liverpool.

 

Simon Mignolet has secured a new five-and-half-a-year deal with Liverpool

 

The goalkeeper has come under-fire for his performances this season and was unconvincing for two goals in the Reds' 3-3 draw with Arsenal last week.

But Jurgen Klopp has publicly backed the Belgium international, describing Mignolet as one of the “smartest goalkeepers” he has ever worked with.

And the 27-year-old revealed he was delighted to be staying on Merseyside until 2021.

“I’m very pleased that I can be at Anfield and a part of Liverpool for a long future. I’m happy to commit my future to LFC,” Mignolet told Liverpool's official website. 

 

“I know signing a new contract comes with new responsibility. I’m getting older as well and coming into the years where people would say those are the years a ‘keeper is at his best.

“I know with a long-term contract, you get more responsibility – and I want to take up that role because I’m the sort of character that wants to be a leader, wants to speak in the dressing room and wants to help the defence.

“I’ll try to work hard together with the goalkeeping coach and staff here, who are behind me and have given their confidence with a new contract.

“I would like to thank them for that – but you can’t really do that with words, you have to do that with performances on the pitch. And that’s what I’ll try to show.”