Mignolet: We just need to focus on the next game

The Reds drew 0-0 with FC Augsburg on Thursday night in the first leg of the round of 32 to set up an exciting return fixture at Anfield next week.

Despite the second leg taking place just a matter of days before the Wembley final against Manchester City, Mignolet is adamant the side will just solely concentrate on the upcoming game.

“There is no point in looking forward to the League Cup final,” he said.

“We are professional footballers and you just have to take every game as it comes. The next game is always the most important. It is a cliche but it is as true as it can be.

“With all the games we have been playing we are used to playing two games in a week. We have seven days to recover - which is a change from what we have done recently.

“We have to get on with it, look at the things we can do better and then I am sure we can do the business at Anfield when we get the fans behind us.”

The Reds were left frustrated at the WWK Arena having missed a number of chances in front of goal, but the Belgian believes the team are in a good position to reach the next stage of the competition.

He added: “We defended well and that is pleasing. That is why we are still in this tie having not conceded away from home. That is a positive thing. You have to do the same things next week and try to score a goal.

“When you play away from home you want to score a goal but that didn’t happen. We knew it was going to be tough beforehand because they are very technical, difficult to beat and don’t give many chances away.

“We created a few in the second half especially but didn’t capitalise on those but we are still in a decent position when we play next week at Anfield. You always want to win the game, it doesn’t matter if it is a double-header. We created enough chances to score but didn’t do that.

“I know every German team is tough to beat and technically up to date and they make it difficult to play. It is a different kind of play to what you have in England and you have to adapt to that.

"In England it is a bit more pressing while here they play a bit more tactically and then it is not easy to adapt to that. They make two lines of four and it is difficult to break that down.

“We scored six last week [against Aston Villa] but that is just how football goes. Sometimes you have to save a few in the previous game to score one in the next game!

“We have to accept that and we will focus on making sure we do the job at home against Augsburg.

“You have to have a bit of luck - first half they probably could have scored and they hit the post late on as well so you have to see it balance out. If you look back to it a 0-0 draw was probably the right result. We will try and do the best we can next week and hopefully we can get through.”

An intriguing spectacle under the lights of Anfield awaits and the Belgian custodian believes the supporters inside the stadium on February 25 can make the difference as the side look to achieve Europa League glory.

“A European night at Anfield, the fans will be behind us and you can always do a bit more when that comes along,” Mignolet said.

“Every 90 minutes is different. On a European night with everything which has happened in the past I am sure the fans will be up for it pushing us forward, and it is up to us to try to get through. That is the only idea we have.

“There are many good teams playing in the Europa League and we have to show we are willing to go to the next round. We have to learn from the game today. We have played them and know what it is about.

“The Europa League is a very big competition and we have a big chance. Every competition you play as Liverpool you want to win and that is all we will try to do next week.”