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It wasn't long ago that Simon Mignolet was having a rough time between the sticks, culminating in getting benched for an indeterminate amount of time in favour of his deputy Brad Jones. An injury to the Australian forced Rodgers to return Mignolet to the side, and since switching back to the fist choice keeper, Liverpool have enjoyed a nearly unprecedented run of defensive strength.
"There’s no doubt, I think the last three months – with the team – he’s been outstanding," Rodgers enthused about his 'keeper after the match against Swansea on Monday night. "We needed him first half, we were still in the game first half because of him, two important saves he made. He’s been excellent. As I say the team suffered at the beginning of the season but clearly now you see his confidence."
Responsible for at least one save that helped keep Swansea off the score sheet, Mignolet's performance was another in a string of performances that have had him hovering near the top of the list of key players each match. A sixth clean sheet on the road ties a club record last seen when the mighty Bill Shankly was in charge in 1971-72, but a win, not a clean sheet, was the priority for Rodgers.
"I think for the team we looked at the numbers before the game in terms of victories away from home," Rodgers explained. "I think last season we were up there with Arsenal for the team who won the most games away from home and this year we’re in the top two or three teams as well. So we know we can go away and win because of the character of the team and the resilience of the team and importantly the quality.
"But that’s nice (the record) considering the quality of the teams that have played here, it shows you really the strides the team is making. To come away and get a clean sheet here at Swansea and get another victory, six clean sheets in a row away from home is a great, great effort from the players."
Having beaten both Arsenal and Manchester United at the Liberty Stadium this season, Swansea were never going to be an easy test of Brendan Rodgers' side. To come away with all three points is an important result, especially now that Rodgers has thrown down a gauntlet and demanded twenty-three points from thirty available in the club's ten final matches. Three down, twenty to go.
