Brendan Rodgers
Reuters

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is keeping a keen eye on Wigan goalkeeper Lee Nicholls and has earmarked the 21-year-old as a potential back-up for Simon Mignolet, according to the Sunday People.

Nicholls has been in brilliant form this season and Rodgers had sent scouts to watch the player in recent weeks. However, his catastrophic spill against Zulte Waregem, which presented the Belgians with a goal, is unlikely to deter Rodgers who thinks highly of his previous performances. The player was a Liverpool man before being released when he was 14 and has the opportunity to move back to his former club should the Reds choose to make an offer.

The player is likely to start in their next game in their next game in the Championship against Derby County with Rodgers keeping his eyes out for the stopper. Liverpool have the option of bringing back Pepe Reina to Anfield, who is currently on loan at Napoli. However, the Spaniard is unlikely to start, given Mignolet's performance thus far this season and will be unwilling to return to his parent club as a second choice goalkeeper.

Meanwhile, Liverpool suffered their first shock loss of the season, away to Hull City where the Reds lost 3-1, denting their chances of a top four finish. The Reds have gained only one point from their last two games and are under pressure to deliver especially with Daniel Sturridge out of contention for up to two months. Rodgers bemoaned their defensive mistakes against Hull and warned that the Reds will struggle with injuries to their star players.

"There's no doubt the quality in our squad, with all due respect, isn't big enough to cope with two big players like that missing. We still have some very good players. Daniel could be out for up to eight weeks. Philippe [Coutinho] hasn't trained all week, he has a high ankle strain and had some injections to get on the bench. He did very well to get on the field," Rodgers said.

"You take those two out and they are two very good players who have been very efficient for us. This period now will test us. For the players who come in, it will be a great opportunity to stake their place in the team and hopefully we can get back to winning games," he added.