STOKE-ON-TRENT, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 9, 2015: Liverpool's goalkeeper Simon Mignolet applauds the supporters after the 1-0 victory over Stoke City during the Premier League match at the Britannia Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Simon Mignolet signs new long-term Liverpool deal

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has signed a new contract which will keep him at the club until 2021.

Press Association Sport understands the Belgium international's new deal is for five years, which shows significant faith from manager Jurgen Klopp as the Belgian has come in for much criticism for some indifferent displays.

Mignolet recorded more Premier League clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in 2015 and though his errors have brought him the wrong sort of headlines, that has not affected Klopp's view.

“I’m very pleased that I can be at Anfield and a part of Liverpool for a long future. I’m happy to commit my future to LFC,” Mignolet told LiverpoolFC.com.

“I know signing a new contract comes with new responsibility. I’m getting older as well and coming into the years where people would say those are the years a ‘keeper is at his best.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, January 13, 2016: Liverpool's goalkeeper Simon Mignolet looks dejected as Arsenal score the second equalising goal during the Premier League match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

“I know with a long-term contract, you get more responsibility – and I want to take up that role because I’m the sort of character that wants to be a leader, wants to speak in the dressing room and wants to help the defence.

“I’ll try to work hard together with the goalkeeping coach and staff here, who are behind me and have given their confidence with a new contract.

“I would like to thank them for that – but you can’t really do that with words, you have to do that with performances on the pitch. And that’s what I’ll try to show.”

While Liverpool have tied up the future of one of their more experienced players they are also looking to progress the development of a potential first-teamer.

Brazilian midfielder Allan Rodrigues de Souza, who joined from Internacional in September, has gone on loan to Belgian side STVV until the end of the season.

The 18-year-old has already enjoyed a temporary spell at SJK in Finland, where he helped the club to the first league title in their history.