Liverpool star Simon Mignolet believes that Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is not ready to be in the first team for their clash this weekend, according to reports from the Mirror.

De Gea was heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid during the summer, but a transfer failed to materialize after paperwork was not submitted in time despite both sides agreeing on a £29million fee.

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During the dispute, Red Devils manager Louis van Gaal chose to deploy summer signing Sergio Romero as his first-choice goalkeeper, but after talks, the Spain international is set to reclaim his place between the posts.

However, Mignolet, who was dropped for this same fixture last December after several costly errors, believes De Gea is not quite ready to face the Merseyside club just yet.

“The only thing I know is that he is a very good goalkeeper who has proved himself to be very important for Manchester United over time," he said.

"I think he has all the abilities to play again. Is he ready? Well, he played with Spain this week and was ready then. He kept a clean sheet.

"It depends on how he is and what kind of state he is in... that’s for United to judge whether he is in a good frame of mind to play. The mental aspect of being a goalkeeper is very important. You have to go into the game with full concentration and confidence, so that is a big part of your game.

“When you are in a good frame of mind then obviously the performance is going to be better. That is logical.

"But I cannot say what is happening in his head – United must decide that.”

Belgium international Mignolet went on to add that De Gea was one of the stars when they met back in December last year, making several world class saves to help United to a 3-0 victory.

“He kept Man United in the game that day and that is what you can do as a goalkeeper. Sometimes you are the hero and sometimes you don’t have anything to do and the ball goes in the back of the net,” Mignolet explained.

“He saved them some points. I was thinking, 'What can I learn and pick up and use in my game that he is using there?'”

De Gea, 24, is set to sign a new bumper contract with his current deal expiring next summer.

 

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