Simon Mignolet’s problems at Liverpool stem not from his hands but his feet, according to manager Brendan Rodgers, who has confirmed he wants a new goalkeeper in the January transfer window.

The Liverpool goalkeeper lost his place to Brad Jones recently and only returned to the side after the Australian suffered a thigh injury against Burnley on St Stephen’s Day. He has made an inauspicious return, struggling to control the ball at Turf Moor or to command his penalty area during the FA Cup win at AFC Wimbledon.

Mignolet has kept only four clean sheets in 25 appearances for Liverpool this season and is liable to be targeted when he faces former club Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. “If an opposition goalkeeper is struggling for confidence, then Sunderland should put him under pressure,” wrote former Sunderland player Gary Rowell this week.

Footwork

Rodgers believes the answer lies in his goalkeeper’s footwork and concentration levels. The Liverpool manager held several conversations with Mignolet, signed for £9 million in 2013 as first choice over Pepe Reina, admits the 26-year-old is still adjusting to the different demands of playing at Anfield.

“Simon was at the time we were watching him, and still is, a wonderful shot-stopper,” explained Rodgers. “He makes big saves but the adaptation for him is coming into a big team where you are not having to make as many saves and therefore concentration is important and you have more touches of the ball with your feet than what he might have expected."

"He has come in here under massive expectation to replace a player who was outstanding for Liverpool for seven or eight years. He is trying to develop areas of his game. He knows he needs to improve with his feet and he is working hard on that on a daily basis. He is analysing the games and working with the coach and doing everything he can to be the best he can be," added Rodgers, who is braced for a bid from Internazionale for the midfielder Lucas Leiva.

Rodgers's admission that the club signed a player uncomfortable with his feet appears startling. But the Liverpool manager said: "Everyone can improve. If you bring in an outfield player or a goalkeeper they can always look to improve their touch or their ideas. It was a new way of working for Simon and for him it was about understanding how a big team and a big club plays, which is to dominate the ball."

Liverpool are close to finalising a new contract for Raheem Sterling following the latest round of negotiations with the England winger’s representatives.

Ian Ayre, the chief executive, held another positive meeting with the 20-year-old’s representatives in London on Monday and a new long-term deal for the increasingly influential Sterling is expected to be signed soon. No announcement is imminent, with Sterling heading straight into Liverpool’s preparations for Saturday’s game from a short holiday in Jamaica, but the legalities of the new contract may be completed in the next week.

Sterling signed a five-year contract with Liverpool in 2012 and is expected to agree another five-year term, albeit on more lucrative terms given his continued progress under Rodgers.

Guardian service