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BBC pundit names Liverpool pair in TOTW, claims 29-year-old was 'lucky'
By Aramide Oladipo
BBC pundit Garth Crooks has named Liverpool duo Simon Mignolet and Philippe Coutinho in his team of the week following their displays against Leicester City on the weekend.
The Reds picked up their first win in four games in all competitions by beating the Foxes 3-2 at the King Power Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Coutinho, 25, provided an assist to set up summer signing Mohamed Salah for the opening goal before producing a sublime free-kick in the first-half.
It was the first time that the Brazilian has found himself on the scoresheet during the new Premier League campaign.
Mignolet, 29, was integral in helping his side earn all three points after saving a late Jamie Vardy penalty.
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The goalkeeper has now stopped seven of the 15 penalties Premier League penalties he has faced since moving to the Merseyside club in 2013.
Writing on the BBC website, Crooks was full of praise for the pairing but he was quick to criticise the Reds for the defensive performance on the weekend.
“It’s been some time since Simon Mignolet got into my team of the week and that’s probably because of Liverpool’s wretched defending,” he wrote.
“Having clattered Vardy, Mignolet was not only lucky to stay on the pitch but produced that moment all strikers dread and saved the penalty to give his team the three points.
“Philippe Coutinho is back, if you were in any doubt (and I was). The ball for Mohamed Salah to open the scoring for Liverpool was sensational, the cross was so perfect it destroyed Leicester’s Ben Chilwell.
“To see a goalkeeper of Kasper Schmeichel’s quality still flying through the air with the ball having passed him told you everything you needed to know about the quality of Coutinho’s free kick.”
The result leaves the Reds in fifth position in the league table just five points behind current leaders Manchester City.
Liverpool will now look to build on the weekend’s result as they face a tricky away fixture against Spartak Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
In other Liverpool news, Mignolet has hailed Philippe Coutinho after Saturday’s win.
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