Simon Mignolet omission points towards Liverpool's transfer plans

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has dropped the strongest hint over his plans for the January transfer window after goalkeeper Brad Jones made his first Premier league appearance for 21 months as a replacement for Simon Mignolet.

Despite demands to improve, a series of individual errors has seen Rodgers lose trust in Mignolet as his No.1 'keeper in the Reds goal, leading to his omission for the trip to Manchester United.

Australian international Jones, whose last league appearance came in March 2013, started in the place of Mignolet and given Rodgers' unwillingness to use the 32-year-old since joining Liverpool the Northern Irish boss could delve into the market to cure his goalkeeping dilemma.

Rodgers says Mignolet has been dropped "indefinitely" from the Liverpool first team and will spend a spell out of action before potentially returning, however the timing of the move less than three weeks before the transfer window opens suggests a move in January is move likely.

Mignolet joined Liverpool from Sunderland in the summer of 2013 and though he saved a penalty from Stoke City's Jonathan Walters on his debut his position has become increasingly uncertain after a series of errors including in both matches against Ludogorets Razgrad.

Speaking after the 3-0 loss to United, Rodgers explained the decision to replace Mignolet with Jones, stating: "It was about giving an opportunity to someone. People might have expected it a few weeks ago, but I just felt that after the Basel game that I needed to make the change.

"If you look back in the games, we were starting to keep a few clean sheets, but this is something that I felt we needed to do. The timing was for today.

"Simon has been fine. He's a really good professional. I spoke to him the other day and he accepted it and understood it. But I just felt that I needed to make the change.

"I said to Simon that it was for an indefinite period. He's played in a lot of the games. It's something that can happen to a 'keeper. When you come out of the firing line a little, it can help you. It allows you time to reflect.

"Brad is a very capable 'keeper. I just felt that I wanted to change it. We have to find the solutions across the squad to be better."