LIVERPOOL -- Jurgen Klopp has revealed goalkeeper Loris Karius is set to make his competitive debut for Liverpool against Derby County, but insists he has not made a decision on who commands the No. 1 spot on a regular basis.
Karius, who joined Liverpool in May from Bundesliga side Mainz for £4.7 million, will make his comeback from a broken hand sustained during preseason in Tuesday's EFL Cup third-round tie at the iPro Stadium.
The 23-year-old was brought to Merseyside to provide competition for Simon Mignolet, who has started the season between the sticks for the Reds while Karius has been out injured.
When asked if Karius would start against Nigel Pearson's Derby side Klopp told a news conference: "Yes, if nothing happens.
"He's a really good goalkeeper and I know where your question should lead. We wanted to have two really, really strong goalkeepers and I think that's what we have got.
"He had an advantage in preseason but he couldn't use it because of the injury. In this exact moment, Simon came back from the national team and did a brilliant job.
"I don't want to make a big battle of these two goalkeepers, why should I? Goalkeepers need to feel secure. Especially as a goalkeeper, you cannot play your whole life as a goalkeeper without conceding goals. You need a manager who says 'yes' but you can still stay, so you can feel increased confidence -- that's with all players like this.
"It's about watching them. The pressure on the players is big enough. They have to do their best and, in the end, if I have a feeling for something then I will change it or not.
"But it's not because we paid money for Loris and didn't pay money last year for Simon that makes the decision. It's all about what I see in training and what I see in training is two very good goalkeepers and another very good goalkeeper [Danny Ward], which we gave on loan to Huddersfield.
"The business is done hopefully. We don't have to talk about this position and now the boys have to perform."
The Reds boss did not want to name his starting goalkeeper for the foreseeable future, but said he will make the call based on what he sees from performances in games and on the training ground.
"Where is my possibility to answer?" Klopp responded when asked whether Mignolet would return in goal for the game against Hull City on Saturday. "If I say 'yes,' what would this mean for Loris? If I say 'no,' what would this mean for Simon?
"Maybe the question makes sense, but the answer does not make sense. There's no No. 1 in this moment. There's no decision to make. It's only about performing, showing how good you are -- that's what it is for other players and it is the same.
"It's not that I say: 'OK, for the next 15 months he's our centre-half or whatever.' It's about performing, improvement and showing how much you, in this case the player, can help the team. That's all."