• Premier League

Mignolet shrugs off increasing pressure

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet says he isn't worried about losing his place, declaring that real pressure is fighting a war in Iraq.

The goalkeeper has come in for criticism this season, with former Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher suggesting he should have got closer to saving Everton captain Phil Jagielka's equaliser at the end of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Mignolet's long-term status as first choice has been cast into doubt because Liverpool are interested in Spain international Victor Valdes, currently without a club after leaving Barcelona at the end of last season.

"If I had to look into all the players who are linked with Liverpool, then there would be another team on the pitch. Every week there would be a different 11 playing," Mignolet told the Liverpool Echo.

"If you play for a big club, you have to accept that is the way it is, but I don't read anything into that. I am here to play my game and to do my best every week. I can only work hard in training, be positive and make sure I play well.

"The only pressure is what you put yourself under. What is pressure? Pressure is what is happening in Iraq at the moment, where there is a war. That is pressure.

"We are football players and we are here to do our best. I can only do my best, work hard in training, be positive and confident and believe in myself. That is the only thing I can do."

Mignolet has been Liverpool's first-choice keeper since arriving from Sunderland for £9 million in June 2013. He has conceded 12 goals and kept one clean sheet in eight matches this season, with Liverpool winning only two of their opening six Premier League games.

The 26-year-old is playing behind a new-look defence, with centre-half Dejan Lovren arriving in the summer along with full-backs Javi Manquillo and Alberto Moreno. Mignolet says that the team are working hard in training to tighten up defensively.

He said: "We're not happy with some of the goals we've conceded in recent games. We've worked hard on things. We want to do better and that showed against Everton.

"We worked on it during the week and I think it showed. Everyone was organised and spoke a lot with each other. Everyone was loud on the pitch and showed the authority that was asked of them. From that perspective, there were a lot of positives to take."

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