Klopp opts for Mignolet over Karius for Middlesbrough visit

If Loris Karius is looking to save face after two less-than-desirable performances against Bournemouth and West Ham, he will have to wait for another day.

Liverpool visits Middlesbrough at the Riverside Wednesday, and Reds gaffer Jurgen Klopp has opted to start Simon Mignolet between the sticks instead of the German summer signing.

After gifting Cherries defender Nathan Ake a late winner in Bournemouth's shocking come-from-behind 4-3 victory 10 days ago, Karius was caught out of position for Dimitri Payet's equaliser seven days later at Anfield against relegation-fodder West Ham.

Karius' performances garnered criticism from supporters and former players alike, and instead of giving the 23-year-old former Mainz man a chance at redemption, Belgian Mignolet has been handed his sixth Premier League start of the campaign.

Should Mignolet have a mare of a time at the Riverside, questions will be asked about Klopp's decision. After playing the role of first-choice shot-stopper each of the last three seasons following a move from the Stadium of Light, Mignolet lost the gig to Karius in the summer.

Mignolet was handed a chance to win back his job after Karius broke his hand in the summer, but the Belgian became a lightning rod for criticism on the heels of a dire performance in a 2-0 defeat to Burnley.

Karius made his first Premier League start in a 5-1 drubbing of Hull City on Sept. 9 before a string of erratic displays put his role into question.

Looking to keep pace with volcanic-hot Chelsea, Klopp's lot will be desperate for a result against Middlesbrough, knowing that the Blues pay a drab Sunderland side a visit Wednesday looking to go six points clear atop the table.