Liverpool coach John Achterberg explains Andy Lonergan’s surprise tour call-up

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Former Leeds United goalkeeper Andy Lonergan has been named among Liverpool’s party to travel to the United States on their pre-season tour.

That’s raised some eyebrows – although there’s no suggestion he will sign for the Reds – and goalkeeping coach John Achterberg has explained why he’s there.

He said to Liverpool’s official website: “We are really light in the goalkeeping area. [Alisson] is on holiday, Kamil is going on loan to Huddersfield, Caoimhin has an injury. That leaves us with [Mignolet] really and Dan Atherton.

“We thought we’d bring someone in who can help us [so we] don’t overload the goalkeepers in training. Basically we’re bringing him in for training and we can try to help him get fit and we’ll see how it goes from there.”

It’s still a very strange situation for a club of Liverpool’s stature to be in, with all the young goalkeepers that many top teams have across youth levels and such like these days.

At least Achterberg’s explanation adds some common sense to the situation, and makes it seem unlikely that Lonergan will be signing for the club, which some supporters may fear.

The scenario can be beneficial for all parties, but some Reds supporters would be within their rights to bemoan their club’s lack of goalkeeping depth.