Simon Mignolet or Brad Jones: Who Starts in Goal for Liverpool vs. Newcastle?

Brad Jones made his first appearance of the season in goal for Liverpool in their Capital One Cup fourth-round win over Swansea City on Tuesday night.

It was, in fact, the Australian's first competitive appearance since the FA Cup defeat to Arsenal back in February.

Although largely untested, the 32-year-old did provide something that recently under-scrutiny No. 1-choice Simon Mignolet doesn't offer—good distribution from the back.

Something that is Mignolet's biggest weakness is so important to Liverpool's game, and Jones tops the Belgian in that department.

For example, with the game having just gone to 2-1 and deep into stoppage time, Jones' long kick down the pitch reached the edge of the opposite box, Philippe Coutinho controlled it and almost made it three, his shot deflecting wide for a corner. Pressure was eased. A kick of such distance from Mignolet would not have been provided.

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

Indeed, it's perplexing that Liverpool ever signed a goalkeeper who struggles with distribution as much as Mignolet does, given its importance in Rodgers' system. After over a year at the club, Mignolet's passing hasn't shown many signs of improvement.

This is where you have to question the role of Liverpool's goalkeeper coach, John Achterberg, who was originally only promoted to first-team 'keeper coach on a temporary basis back in 2011 following Roy Hodgson's departure.

There were suggestions back in May 2012, as per the Guardian, that former goalkeeper coach Xavi Valero—the Spaniard much heralded by Pepe Reina during Rafa Benitez's reign at Anfield—was to return to the club.

But shortly after that, Kenny Dalglish was fired and Brendan Rodgers has since never brought in a new coach to fill the role. Achterberg, whose only previous experience as a coach was at Liverpool's Academy, has remained.

Indeed, of the club's first-team coaching staff, Achterberg is the only one who was at the club prior to Rodgers' appointment. The Liverpool boss has brought in his own assistant, first-team coach, head of fitness, head of performance and head of opposition analysis, but the 'keeper coach has remained the same. It's an oddity that aligns with a deterioration in Reina's form and a failure for improvement in Mignolet's.

Presence

Liverpool's recent, well-documented, defensive troubles appear to be largely centred around the relationship between goalkeeper Mignolet and centre-backs, usually Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren. It appears, from a watching view, that neither has belief and confidence in the other. Each seem to lack belief in the other, and this manifests itself into making bad decisions and judgements.

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This is particularly evident on Liverpool's defending of set pieces. Speaking of which, the Reds lined up with a more zonal approach against Swansea, with a staggered, diagonal line of four defenders zonally across the box and three-man markers.

Liverpool's defence looked more composed against Swansea than we've seen recently; whether this was due to Jones' presence in goal (or indeed the lack of Mignolet behind them) isn't clear. Perhaps it was a combination of that and Kolo Toure's presence and leadership at the back.

The Ivorian was visibly leading Dejan Lovren, Glen Johnson and Javi Manquillo alongside him. Such leadership has been lacking in Liverpool's defence ever since the former Arsenal and Man City centre-back was ousted for Martin Skrtel last September.

Performance vs. Newcastle

The effect that dropping Mignolet for a Premier League game could have would obviously be damaging to his confidence, so the likelihood of Rodgers sticking with Jones instead seems weak, but it is something perhaps the boss will keep in mind—especially if he does intend bringing in a new 'keeper in January anyway.

Liverpool certainly need a stronger option than Mignolet going forward. Somebody who can command their box, especially on set pieces, and lead the defence. One who inspires confidence in those ahead of him and who is capable of playing the ball out from the back.

Mignolet is clearly a very good shot stopper and we've seen that plenty over this and last season. Perhaps he needs more help from those in front of him. Rodgers could do worse then than playing Toure instead of Skrtel if he sticks with Mignolet against Newcastle on Saturday.