Jurgen Klopp insists that Loris Karius has earned the right to start Liverpool's Champions League clash with Sevilla ahead of Simon Mignolet.

The Reds boss confirmed the German keeper will get the nod for the club's Group E opener at Anfield on Wednesday night – despite having only played 90 minutes of first-team football since January.

It's a gamble by Klopp and a bitter blow for Mignolet, whose upturn in form in the second half of last season contributed so greatly to helping Liverpool qualify for Europe's elite competition.

Karius endured a nervy return to action after Mignolet was “rested” for last month's league win over Arsenal, but Klopp says the former Mainz shot-stopper is ready to deliver on the big stage.

“I decided already who is the goalkeeper. I spoke to the boys. If nothing happens overnight then Loris will start, yes,” Klopp said.

On the eve of the new campaign a month ago, Klopp insisted that Mignolet remained Liverpool's No 1 with Karius and Danny Ward providing back-up.

Asked if that situation has changed now that Karius has been picked for the glamour of Champions League action, Klopp hit back and defended his decision to make the switch.

Show Player

He added: “Look, I can't believe... I'm not sure if this is your job to ask this question, but no it doesn't mean that – and please don't do that.

“Of course not. The situation I can say with absolute truth. If we have Simon as No 1 and play the other goalkeepers not once throughout the year...

“If they train bad they don't deserve a game, but they both train really well, they keep the level really high."

Klopp gives Philippe Coutinho update ahead of Liverpool vs Sevilla

The manager believes Mignolet and Karius are at a similar level so insists it's only right that game time is shared between them across the different competitions.

“If we don't give them a game then every year we have to find a new No 2 who is 33, still able to catch a few balls and doesn't want to play any more – that's really difficult to find someone like that,” Klopp said.

“I prefer having a group of good goalkeepers, and that means you have to change things. The game against Arsenal when Loris played was exactly how I said. It was very intense, yes we could have said afterwards it was not a goalkeeper game, but we didn't know that before.

“Could he prove something? I think he did. He was very cool with the ball, I know for some people too cool with the ball but that can happen with no rhythm, so that now he has had the game and it helped him a lot, us also and now he will start.

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

“That's the plan – not to keep them happy. No, to use the quality of the goalkeepers and that's how it is, to keep them altogether and then they will decide with the performance who will play.

“Why do we always think No 1, No 2, No 3 is fixed until the end of all days? I don't want to bring that in doubt, but how can you ask if he's No 1?

“By the way, it's not that he shouldn't be No 1. Are all players happy with the decisions? I don't know – it's nothing I can think about too much.”