Premier League: Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet shrugs off criticism after Stoke win
Sunday 30 November 2014 14:20, UK
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has shrugged off criticism aimed at him and insists he does not dwell on individual performances whether they are good or bad.
The Belgium international came under even more scrutiny after an error in the midweek Champions League tie but responded with only his third clean sheet in 25 appearances in the scrappy 1-0 win over Stoke.
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar this week blamed him for the club's poor start to the campaign, criticising his inability to deal with crosses or command his area, but it has not even registered with Mignolet.
"I deal with a good performance the same as a poor performance - you have to accept it and move on," he said after Liverpool ended a three-match losing run in the league.
It is always pleasing as a goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet but the most important thing is to get back to winning ways and hopefully we can build a bit of momentum now.
"What I did after the (Ludogorets) game was look forward to the next game and that is what I will do again today.
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"It is always pleasing as a goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet but the most important thing is to get back to winning ways and hopefully we can build a bit of momentum now.
"If you play at home you want to win games and we did the job and that is all that counts.
"There is another game on Tuesday (against bottom side Leicester) and we will look forward to that one."
Against Stoke, Jose Enrique played at left-back which allowed match-winner Glen Johnson to switch to his preferred role on the right, with Javier Manquillo the one to miss out.
That meant a first league start since February 12 for Kolo Toure, who had impressed at centre-back in the last two European matches.
"He has got the experience. He has played throughout the years and he knows what he is capable of doing," Mignolet said of the 33-year-old Ivorian.
"He can help the team and organise them so we know what to expect from him and he works his socks off every day in training and is always ready when the gaffer needs him."
Despite playing behind another changed back four, Mignolet insisted it made no difference to him.
"We are professional football players so we have to deal with that," he said.
"You train with all the lads in training every single day so you know what they can do and you know what their capabilities are."
