Brendan Rodgers: 'Competition between Pepe Reina, Simon Mignolet is important'

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has claimed that Simon Mignolet was brought into the club as competition for Pepe Reina as opposed to being a replacement.

Following Mignolet's arrival from Sunderland, reports emerged claiming that Reina was on his way out of Anfield, but Rodgers has insisted that signing another goalkeeper is healthy competition for the squad.

"I always felt it was important for us to have competition right the way through the squad, and that includes the goalkeepers," Rodgers told the club's official website.

"I spoke to Pepe about this a few months back and told him we wanted to bring in another goalkeeper as real competition. Pepe has been terrific here, Brad Jones was excellent when he stood in last year, and I felt we needed another one.

"I was very open with my goalkeepers and they know the situation. Simon comes in and we've got great competition, and when you've got competition it pushes everyone to perform."

Reina has been linked with a return to Barcelona, but the Spaniard has recently insisted that he is happy at Liverpool.