Simon Mignolet has expressed his confidence in Liverpool’s defensive expertise and backed any combination at the back to produce the goods when the Reds face Tottenham on Sunday.
Brendan Rodgers‘ side has shut out one opponent in its last 12 Barclays Premier League games — the 4-0 victory over Fulham being its only shut-out since early September.
The Reds were unfortunate to leak a consolation goal against Norwich City last Wednesday, before Martin Skrtel turned past his own goalkeeper in the 4-1 win over West Ham United.
The manager has varied his defensive selection in recent weeks, but Mignolet insists he’s focused on his job, rather than the outfield personnel in front of him.
“I work day in, day out with the lads and I know what they can do,” he told the Liverpool Echo. “All the defenders here are very talented, organised, motivated and concentrated. They are doing their very best to make sure we don’t concede.
“They are all professional enough to deal with any changes. Martin Kelly came on at a difficult moment in the game against West Ham when we were struggling a bit and did well.
“It doesn’t matter for me as a ‘keeper who is in front of me. It’s just about doing your job.
“Before every game starts you look forward to keeping a clean sheet. That’s what I’m there for and that’s what you want, but you are just one part of the team.
“The most important thing is to try to win the game. If we keep winning 4-1 until the end of the season I’ll be happy.”
Mignolet thought he was on course for a fourth clean sheet at Anfield in the Premier League this season after he pulled off a stunning, reflex save at the Kop end to push Modibo Maiga‘s powerful header over the bar.
However, when Skrtel stretched to clear Matt Jarvis‘s knock-down inside the six-yard box, the stopper was powerless to prevent his side from conceding.
“I was pleased with that save from Maiga, but I am there to do those things,” he said. “As a goalkeeper you want to help the team out when they need you and saves like that can help the team go on to win games.
“Martin was so unfortunate with the own goal. But all the clearances he made before that and all the headers he won more than made up for that.
“He has been so good for us week in, week out. He has been in top form since the opening few weeks of the season.
“He was unlucky not to get on the score-sheet at the other end as it was given to Mamadou Sakho instead.”
Liverpool has now won 12 out of 17 league games at Anfield this calendar year — only West Bromwich Albion and Southampton have taken three points home from L4.
Rodgers’ men also became the first Reds side to score four goals or more in four consecutive home matches for 33 years when they beat the Hammers at the weekend.
“We want to win all our home games and it’s been a good response to the Hull defeat with two wins and nine goals,” said Mignolet. “Hopefully we can keep that going. We don’t really want to look too much at the opposition or who did what.
“It’s far more important to focus on ourselves and make sure we do the things we want to do and make sure we win our games.
“The fact that other top teams dropped points just proves that every game in the Premier League is difficult. We have to focus on ourselves.”
