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If there’s anyone who knows about the pressures associated with being Liverpool’s goalkeeper, it’s David James.

He knows the responsibility, he knows the importance. He knows what it’s like to make mistakes and to deal with the criticism that follows.

In his role as a television pundit with BT Sport, he has consistently supported Simon Mignolet, as questions over the Belgian’s capabilities have grown. James believes Mignolet has been harshly treated in some quarters.

He is, though, enthused by the arrival of Loris Karius at Anfield. Competition, he says, is no bad thing.

“I like the signings Jurgen Klopp has made,” he tells the ECHO. “And my favourite of the signings is Loris Karius.

“This isn’t because I don’t rate Simon Mignolet, because I do. I felt Simon came under a lot of criticism last season, unfairly at times. It was annoying listening to a lot of cliched remarks from people about how Liverpool needed to replace him.

“But I don’t think Karius has been brought in as ‘the replacement’, I think he’s been brought in to challenge and to make the squad stronger.

“He had a very good season last year with Mainz, and I think that bringing in that competition for Simon, which he hasn’t really had, is a win-win situation.

“Either Simon becomes the goalkeeper I think he’s capable of being, which is top drawer, or Karius overtakes him and he in turn becomes the goalkeeper he’s capable of being, which is also top drawer.

“Dare I say, for the first time in many years it looks like Liverpool have got themselves two very capable goalkeepers.”

James, of course, knew the highs and the lows at Liverpool. He arrived as a youngster, usurping an Anfield legend in Bruce Grobbelaar, lived with the criticism of the ‘Spice Boys’ era and then saw his place taken by first Brad Friedel and then, finally, Sander Westerveld. He left Merseyside in 2000 having made 277 appearances, and remains a keen follower of his former club.

“I think the key thing when you talk about goalkeepers and competition is that you understand why a signing has been made,” he says.

“When Brad, for example, came in when I was at Liverpool, I wasn’t having a particularly good time and Brad was brought in as a replacement.

“And when that happens, when you know the guy coming in has been signed to replace you, I would argue it sets up a bad environment.

“That isn’t the case here. Simon has already signed a long-term contract, which in itself is a show of faith from the club and the manager.

“Now Karius has been brought in, because there isn’t really any competition. It was a logical move.

“I thought Simon did OK last season, and there’s no reason why he wouldn’t have been confident about remaining as the No.1. But at the same time, he now knows that if he isn’t performing then there is a guy there who will come in and take over.

“There’s pressure, but it’s different to knowing that someone is coming in to take your place the moment you make one mistake. That’s what I had.”

He adds: “The other good thing is that I think Jurgen has full control of that changing room. I saw no signs of disharmony there last season, and I see no reason why that good vibe won’t continue.”

James has done his research on Karius, who will miss the start of the season having suffered a broken hand during Liverpool’s US tour. The 23-year-old arrives on Merseyside with a stellar reputation built during three strong seasons in the Bundesliga, and has made no secret of his desire to dislodge Mignolet as first choice.

“There’s a rawness about Karius which I like,” James says. “As soon as I saw that he was going to Liverpool, I did a lot of homework on him and I really liked what I saw and heard.

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“He’s 23, and he’s raw. It’s a cliché to use the phrase ‘rough diamond’ but that’s what he is. He has tremendous capability and tremendous potential but he’s still raw.

“And I think that what you will find as he works with Jurgen and his staff and the goalkeeping coach at Melwood, is that his rawness will start to become cleaner.

“There will be an improvement, everyone will see that and Simon will certainly see that. And when you see a fellow goalkeeper improving, you have two choices; you can improve yourself, or you can crumble.

“I think that in the past, Liverpool haven’t had that situation where they’ve had two goalkeepers pushing each other on, forcing each other to become better. Simon has almost been running a race on his own.

“That’s why I think Loris is a great acquisition.”

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