Simon Mignolet: I'm not getting carried away with recent good form, says Liverpool keeper

Belgian keeper has conceded just one goal in three matches

Carl Markham
Wednesday 21 January 2015 15:58 GMT
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Simon Mignolet says he will bounce back from his costly error that gave Manchester City victory against Liverpool
Simon Mignolet says he will bounce back from his costly error that gave Manchester City victory against Liverpool (GETTY IMAGES)

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Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet insists he is not getting carried away with his recent performances and believes the team will not let an impressive display against Chelsea affect their focus.

The Belgium international has conceded just one goal - Eden Hazard's penalty in Tuesday's 1-1 Capital One Cup semi-final first leg - in three matches.

He has been visibly better since unexpectedly returning to the side as a substitute on Boxing Day, having been dropped by manager Brendan Rodgers after a string of unconvincing games.

"I spoke to the gaffer about what I needed to work on during my time out of the team," he said.

"I've just tried to keep my head down and work hard in training. I won't get carried away with one good performance. I have to keep doing my job every single week in, week out.

"That is my job. I don't have to get carried away with these kind of things - I just have to keep doing it. There are lot of big games coming up with a lot to play for and we all want to do well."

A recent upturn in form, culminating in a scintillating second half against Jose Mourinho's side, has renewed hope the Reds can achieve their targets in the second half of the season.

Rodgers reckons they can do what no other team has done since Atletico Madrid in April and win at Stamford Bridge next week.

But Mignolet stressed no-one can afford to let their concentration slip, especially with an FA Cup fourth-round tie at home to Sky Bet Championship side Bolton on Saturday.

"That performance (against Chelsea) will give everyone a boost," he added. "We showed how much we have improved but the message is we can't afford to get carried away. Everyone needs to stay calm. If we get carried away, maybe the game won't be the same.

"Hopefully we can get the right result at Stamford Bridge and get ourselves into the final. But now we will think about the FA Cup tie against Bolton. That's on our minds before the second leg.

"Hopefully we can go into the next round of that one as well, and then we will focus on Chelsea."

Liverpool could have already had one foot in a Wembley final had it not been for the performance of Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who almost single-handedly kept the hosts at bay.

Mignolet was not surprised. He knows all too well how good the 22-year-old is as he is currently keeping him out of Belgium's national side.

"The fact he had so much to do shows that we were the better side," he said. "He's a very good shot-stopper and he showed that.

"That is always good. Competition for places is always very good, and with Belgium we have a very strong side at the moment and in every position we have lots of players."

PA

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