By Danny Wright

2nd Mar, 2017 | 10:25am

Simon Mignolet has alternative take on Liverpool criticism

By Danny Wright

Simon Mignolet believes that Liverpool can harness their recent criticism to help motivate them to improve their recent poor form.

The Reds welcome Arsenal to Anfield on Saturday and the Belgian goalkeeper believes that the harsh condemnation of their loss to Leicester in their last outing will give them some much needed motivation to get a result.

Liverpool have not lost to a team that is currently in the top half of the Premier League this season and have already beat the Gunners this season after an opening day 4-3 win at the Emirates.

Mignolet has been one the players that the Liverpool critics seem to prey on due to his inconsistent form at the club since arriving from Sunderland in 2013.

“We showed at the Emirates at the beginning of the season that we can get a result, play really good football and create chances against Arsenal. That’s what we have to look to again. It’s the next game that counts and that’s why we’re looking forward,” he was quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo.

“You can use (criticism) as some sort of energy to get yourselves back up again and push yourselves even further and harder, looking forward to the next opportunity.

“That’s what we have to do. It’s a new game (against Arsenal), a new 90 minutes to play and this weekend it’ll be the only thing that matters.”

The former Sunderland shot-stopper has been in and out of Jurgen Klopp’s side this season and is in fierce competition with Loris Karius for the number one slot.

Both keepers have been closely scrutinised by fans for their displays this season as the pair have not been able to pick up any kind of good form throughout the campaign which has seen Liverpool concede 33 goals this season – more than the likes of West Bromwich Albion, Southampton and Middlesbrough.

After Monday’s loss to the managerless Foxes, Liverpool’s top four status has come under serious threat.

Following a good start to the campaign, the Reds have won just two of their games in 2017 and have slipped down to fifth place.

A win on Saturday against Arsenal could see them rises as high as third if results go their way.

In other Liverpool news, the club suffer a major blow as a senior pair return for Arsenal.

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