The goalkeeper believes the strike duo's performances
have been vital in all areas of the pitch for Brendan Rodgers' side and has
refused to talk up the club's title chances.
Given the headline-grabbing displays of Luis Suarez and
Daniel Sturridge in recent weeks, Simon Mignolet’s swift integration at Anfield
may have been overlooked by many.
The Belgium goalkeeper has conceded just eight goals in
his side’s nine Premier League matches, keeping three clean sheets in the
process, which has pushed Brendan Rodgers’ men into third spot behind Chelsea
and Arsenal.
But the summer arrival from Sunderland believes the form
of both Suarez and Sturridge, who have scored 14 goals between them this term,
has been vital to Liverpool's system at both ends of the pitch.
Speaking at the launch of Battlefield 4, Mignolet said: “They
are a very good partnership. The goals they score and the quality they show
week in, week out just shows how good they are.
“Hopefully they can keep creating chances and score goals
because then we know we just have to keep it tight and they will score the
goals at the other end of the pitch.
“They’re doing really well at the moment and working
really hard together. The amount of work they do to win the ball back can
sometimes be more important as we play as a team.
“If they keep scoring like they are doing then it can
only help us win games.”
Liverpool’s excellent start to the campaign has seen the
club installed by some as contenders to secure their first league title since
1990.
But Mignolet, who was only two-years-old at the time of
that success, has played down any early expectations.
“There’s no point talking about contending for the league
at the moment,” he said.
“The season still has a long way to go and after the
international break in November until February there are a lot of important
games to be played.
“It’s more important just to concentrate on each game and
see where the points we have picked up leave us.
“We’re pleased with how things are going. We’ve had a
good start and the only thing we want to do is keep building on that.
“We need to keep doing the things we’ve been doing,
starting with Saturday against Arsenal. We’ll try and do our best again. We are
confident and motivated to keep our good form going.”
Saturday’s trip to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsene
Wenger’s league leaders represents arguably the toughest test Mignolet and his
team-mates have faced this season.
The Gunners are unbeaten in eight league matches and have
dazzled with a number of eye-catching displays but the Liverpool goalkeeper
insists his side will only focus on showcasing their own style of play.
““Arsenal have had a good start,” Mignolet continued.
“The likes of [Aaron] Ramsey and [Mesut] Ozil are doing
well for them so we know they have a lot of quality in their team. For us it’s
more about making sure we do the things we want to do and get ourselves
prepared for the game. We’re focussed on getting the result we want out of the
game.
“It’s an opportunity to play the top team and get the
right result out of the game.”
As well as proving to be a proficient shot-stopper,
Mignolet has been actively encouraged to display his distribution strengths by
Rodgers, a skill which the 25-year-old brings from his time with the Belgium
national team.
“When you arrive at any new club you always try do the
job that is asked of you,” Mignolet explained.
“The gaffer wants us to play in a certain style where we
play from the back and the ‘keeper has to start that. Therefore in the first
couple of weeks you have to get used to it.
“I had some experience of it playing for the Belgian
national team, where we play a similar style of football. It’s something I
enjoy and is working for me.”
As well as starring in what promises to be an exciting
campaign for Liverpool, Mignolet is also set to form part of the Belgium squad
who will be present at next summer’s World Cup in Brazil.
Marc Wilmots’ side have been tipped to reach the latter
stages after qualifying as a seeded team, but as with his club’s prospects,
Mignolet is refusing to get carried away with Belgium's World Cup expectations.
He added: “It’s been 12 years since we qualified so we’re
very pleased that we managed to get to Brazil. Now we want to prepare ourselves
with the friendlies before the World Cup and then do well once it comes along.
“We avoid Germany, Spain Brazil and other big teams, but
on the other hand you just have to look at the teams in the play-offs and see
that every team in the World Cup are going to be a good side. We’ll see after
the draw which teams we’ll come up against.”
Culled from Goal
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