Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Simon Mignolet will start the 2017-18 campaign as Liverpool’s No 1.

The Reds boss declared last month that it would be a three-way battle between Mignolet, Loris Karius and Danny Ward during pre-season.

However, Mignolet has got the nod to line up against Watford on Saturday after Klopp reaffirmed his faith in the Belgium international, who transformed his Anfield career with his performances in the second half of last term.

Asked who would start at Vicarage Road, Klopp said: “It is Simon. It was a battle at the highest level in all the games in pre-season.

“Simon looked really stable. He was involved in all the sessions. He did not have one bad day which is cool and after the season he had last year, he is very confident. He has improved and is still improving in parts of his game.

“Loris had a few little issues but was really strong in the games he played. Wardy had a bad pre-season because of back problems.

"He couldn’t train and for a goalkeeper it is even worse to have back problems than another player, but everyone could see against Atletico that we have another good goalkeeper.

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“In this moment it is Simon one, Loris two and Wardy three. That is not a decision for the next 20 years.

"Things can happen, but I am as confident as possible that if one gets injured we still have really good options.”