Mignolet makes Liverpool pledge ahead of Merseyside derby

Simon Mignolet insists Liverpool plan to “deliver the total package” on Sunday and maintain their winning run in the Merseyside derby.

Everton arrive on Sunday having failed to win at Anfield since 1999 and not won any of the last 13 Premier League matches at either ground since the 2-0 success in 2010.

The Toffees have been rejuvenated since Sam Allardyce was brought in as new manager last week with three back-to-back wins but Liverpool are currently on a different level.

Their 7-0 Champions League demolition of Spartak Moscow on Wednesday made it 32 goals in nine games in all competitions since the loss at Tottenham – their last defeat – with five Premier League wins and a draw during that time.

Liverpool’s front four of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho are all in top form but Mignolet said they need to maintain that this weekend.

“We are in a good moment. We had a good result in the week but that was only about getting ourselves qualified,” he said.

“We scored five goals away from home against Brighton and seven against Spartak (in the last week) but this weekend it will be a totally different game.

“We have to prove ourselves again to try to win the derby. We’ve always had good results at home against Everton but now the fact Sam Allardyce has just arrived means it will be a different fixture.

“I think Sam will be set up to make it very difficult – he knows how important the derby will be – so it will be a different fixture from a couple of weeks ago.

 

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“We have to deliver the total package again to make sure we score goals like we are at the moment but at the other end be solid at the back.”

In addition to the goals raining in at one end Liverpool have shored things up at the other, conceding just three in the league since shipping four against Spurs in late September.

Their record at home is even better this season with five clean sheets and just two conceded in seven matches at Anfield.

Mignolet believes that is testament to an all-round team effort, starting with the men up front.

“It is not only the fact they score goals they also work hard to stop the opponents,” he added.

“They are the first ones to press up high and they come back when we need them.

“That’s what we need. There’s so much quality if we can keep it close at the back we will always have a chance to score a goal.”

Manager Jurgen Klopp is also keen for the credit to be spread around the team despite the focus on the in-form attacking quartet.

“I have no problem with nicknames like ‘Fab Four’ but that is disrespectful against all the other players,” he said.

“We played a fantastic game at West Ham and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was involved.

“We didn’t have Adam Lallana so far and I think he would fit fantastically in each group or band in this world. Daniel Sturridge, Dom Solanke and all these offensive players… that’s not fair.”