Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp hints that Loris Karius will replace Simon Mignolet as first-choice goalkeeper

The summer signing from Mainz looks set to retain a starting spot for Saturday's home game against Hull

Karius kept a clean sheet on his debut against Derby (Getty)

Jürgen Klopp has given the strongest suggestion yet that Loris Karius will replace Simon Mignolet as Liverpool’s first-choice goalkeeper.

Karius, 23, is set to start against Hull City on Saturday having kept a clean sheet on his competitive debut in Tuesday night’s 3-0 EFL Cup win over Derby County.

The summer signing from Mainz could have started the season as the club’s number one had he not broken his arm during a pre-season tour of the United States.

Klopp, who has persisted with Mignolet despite Karius’ recovery from the injury, has now suggested that he could give the young ‘keeper a prolonged chance to impress.

“Let's go through a few different kinds of ways in which we could see it,” he said during his pre-match press conference on Thursday.

“Do we say, 'Okay, Loris had the game against Derby. Was it a real game for a keeper? Not really. So give him a home game' for example.

“We could say, 'There is an international break coming up, so give Loris a home game and Swansea away' and then both have had the chance to show what they are.

“It's not in doubt, it's not a test.

"I accept again the circumstances over the keeper's position. But in the end it's 100% positive — Liverpool FC will have a very strong goalkeeper on Saturday between the posts.”

Karius’ promotion to the starting line-up would see Mignolet drop to the bench, despite a largely error-free start to the season.

The Belgium international’s place has been a point of contention among supporters for the past few seasons following several costly mistakes.

Brendan Rodgers, the former Liverpool manager, dropped Mignolet from his starting line-up in December 2014, only to reinstate him later that month.