Mignolet Hails Liverpool’s Attack: “Everyone Chips In”

The last time Liverpool boasted a fearsome attack eas during the surprise title challenge in 2013/14, which was powered by an astoundingly talented Luis Suárez and a clinical Daniel Sturridge. Those two alone scored 52 league goals between them, and although there were fine contributions from elsewhere, the pair were essential.

Suárez left for Barcelona at the end of the season and Sturridge has largely struggled for fitness since then. Under Jürgen Klopp, Sturridge has not quite been first-choice to lead the line. That task has often gone to Liverpool’s hardworking and durable Roberto Firmino—a player who perfectly fits Klopp’s demanding commitment to counter pressing.

There have been 12 different players have scored for Liverpool in the Premier League this season, and five of them have scored five goals or more. With left back James Milner excelling on penalty duties, other players cannot rely on penalties to boost their respective goal tallies. It seems that Liverpool’s threat comes from various areas, and Simon Mignolet praised the current vintage despite being at the other end of the pitch.

“We have a really good team,” Mignolet said. “There are similarities with 2014 because we grew into the season and gained momentum and experience. But the difference between now and then is that in 2014 we were reliant on the individual qualities with the likes of Stevie (Gerrard), Studge (Daniel Sturridge) and Luis Suarez.

“Now the danger comes from the whole team. The strength is within the whole team. We defend and attack as a team. There isn’t one main goal scorer. Everyone chips in. That’s very important because opponents have to set up in a different way. They can’t just say ‘we need to look after Luis Suarez’.

“It is always better to have a good unit than being reliant on one or two players. Now it’s about the system and that’s probably a better basis to go forward. We still have a very young squad. We are in the semis of the League Cup, we’re still in the FA Cup and we’re up there challenging for the Premier League title. Let’s see what we can achieve with this group.”

Mignolet has proven worthy of being Klopp’s first-choice goalkeeper this season, and with his help, Liverpool could have a chance of making good on the promise and progress shown to date.