Simon Mignolet’s current form has been a huge surprise. But that is not the only surprising thing. The fact that Liverpool brought in no goalkeeper during the transfer window is just as surprising. Prior to the window, names like Genoa’s Mattia Perrin and Brugge’s Matt Ryan were tossed around as the Belgian’s likely replacement. His Liverpool career seemed over when he was “indefinitely” replaced by Brad Jones.

Liverpool FC has produced a number of legendary goalkeepers: Elisha Scott, Ray Clemence, Bruce Grobbelaar etc. However, for large spells of the first half of the season goalkeeping gave Liverpool lot of headaches. The Belgian, whose Anfield career had began on a high of a last minute penalty save in his first league match was poor, questioned and even ridiculed. His replacement, Jones offered little hope. A new goalkeeper coming in January seemed inevitable. At that stage, his match winning saves at the start of the season against Southampton, had been undone by countless poor performances.

His Man Of The Match performance against the same opponents late February confirmed his redemption. His resurgence is visible on the eyes and backed up by statistics. He is more commanding of his penalty box and vocal in organizing defensive lines during set-pieces. After that match, he had recorded more clean sheets (six) in fewer league matches (nine) than he did in his first fifteen matches (four in 15).  He has made 14 punches in 9 leagues matches from Christmas to date; that is 2 more than he recorded in his first 15 matches and double what his closest challenger in the league - Thibaut Courtois of Chelsea - has recorded.

Not all of the improvements are down to him. He credits his missus for his resurgence. In his interviews with some UK newspapers prior to the FA Cup clash with Crystal Palace, he recounted a Christmas dinner with Jasmien, who suggested that he may be ‘over-thinking stuff’. This was after the match against Burnley when he comically allowed a ball to run over the line for a corner instead of clearing it. As a result of Jasmien’s “diagnosis” he is playing on instincts, he admitted in the interview. The switch to the back three of Can, Sakho and Skrtel has also helped the Belgian’s form.

On current form, he is one of the best in the league and a credible contender for the prestigious Golden Glove award. In the early part of the season, the club’s failure to bring in a goalkeeper in the summer window looked a horrendous misjudgment. That Brad Jones was only considered when Mignolet got progressively worse says a lot about how lowly the coaching staff rates the experienced Australian 'keeper. Jones as the back-up goalkeeper has been two of the constants during the dip in form of both Mignolet and Reina. The other is goalkeeper’s coach, Achterberg. Sections within the Liverpool fan base doubt his competence. Mignolet’s improvement has happened on his watch, so the hypothesis that he cannot improve the team’s goalkeepers still lacks conclusion. Jones did not offer much to make fans forget about a poor Mignolet when he got the nod over the Belgian. His presence between the sticks instead of giving him a chance to stake a permanent claim for the number one spot only confirmed the then embattled Belgian as the better goalkeeper. His positioning for Robin van Persie’s goal at Old Trafford and tame attempt at saving Debuchy’s equaliser at Anfield were some of his high profile errors. A Mignolet in good form will therefore not feel challenged when his back-up is Jones. Pepe Reina’s form among other factors suffered from the inadequacy of Jones as a back-up. To sustain and even improve Mignolet’s form recruiting a new goalkeeper to challenge the Belgian is imperative.

There is a limit the advice of his missus can go. The defence cannot always save him; he needs to save them sometimes. Mignolet’s impressive form cannot be allowed to slip back to the comical and poor levels experienced at the start of the season. Keeping his position under as much pressure as possible is the best way to keep Mignolet in this impressive form. Jones has so far failed to do so. Mignolet’s current impressive form should give impetus to the search for a new goalkeeper rather than make it redundant.

When Mignolet made the brave attempt to come off his line to stop Eljero Elia’s attempt at goal in the Southampton match, lots of Liverpool fans got worried at the possibility of the Belgian being red-carded. Fortunately referee Kevin Friend spared Rodgers and Liverpool fans the worry of having a young and inexperienced Danny Ward in goal for the rest of the match and other high profile matches like against Manchester City. Injuries and suspensions happen without notice; and their presence can make strong teams depleted. Top teams hedge against this possibility by ensuring that there is enough quality behind the first eleven. Currently Liverpool is shorn of that quality in their goalkeeping department. An addition of a good goalkeeper to the squad is therefore important to strengthen the team for next season and beyond.

Whiles Mignolet’s form is great, it will take competition from a good goalkeeper to maintain or even improve the Belgian’s form. Injuries and suspensions also mean that his current impressive form should not preclude the club from transfer activity in the goalkeeping department. Mignolet’s form should give impetus to the search for another goalkeeper in the summer. A “Thank You” card to Jasmien, Mignolet’s missus and a cheque book to bring in his competitor is all the club needs now.

Stats courtesy: Squawka

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