Mignolet: We've shown we can beat these teams - let's fight for it
Liverpool are targeting improvements at both ends of the pitch to ensure their difficulties in overcoming the Premier League's so-called lesser sides don't deal a fatal blow to their top-four hopes, according to Simon Mignolet.
The Reds' run-in does not feature any meetings with the other sides that currently occupy the top seven places in the league but, on the evidence of their record so far this term, that is not necessarily good news.
Jürgen Klopp's team went undefeated in 12 fixtures against their closest rivals but have four draws and five defeats to their name from the other 19 other games they contested thus far.
Joshua King's late goal for Bournemouth extended that disappointing run on Wednesday evening at Anfield, but Mignolet insists he and his teammates have proven that they are capable of winning those types of fixtures.
He told Liverpoolfc.com: "I think we showed against Burnley at home how we have to do it.
"Even there as well, we went behind, like yesterday, fairly early in the game but we responded well. We did [against Bournemouth], getting back up, and it’s about trying to see the game through, which unfortunately we didn’t do.
"If we scored a third goal, like we did for example against Everton, then the game is finished and over and done with.
"I think that’s what we forgot to do, so we have to be clinical. I think that’s very important going into the last games of the season, it’s about getting three points week in week out.
"It will be tough, we’ll have to fight for it, and therefore we have to be clinical on a consistent basis. If we can take that into the last games of the season, there are a lot of points to win for us."
The Belgian goalkeeper believes extra ruthlessness in both boxes can make the difference for the Reds, and he wants to see evidence of that against Stoke City on Saturday.
He added: "[It's about] not only trying to score the decisive goal but also making sure we don’t concede that one. It’s both ends of the pitch and we have to do that all together.
"We have to learn from that and we can do that very quickly by getting three points at Stoke."
Liverpool's failure to clear a lofted ball into the box proved to be their downfall against the Cherries - an issue that has reared its head on other occasions this season.
With Stoke having favoured a direct approach against the Reds in recent meetings, their ability to deal with an aerial bombardment could well be tested again in Staffordshire.
When asked how he and the defence might deal with that, Mignolet replied: "We’ll have to adapt our positions and have to make sure we are well organised and don’t give chances away.
"[If we do that], our strikers and the guys who have the creativity can score the goals we need to win the game. Away from home, first we have to try and keep a clean sheet, and if we can do that it will make it easier for us to win games.
"We’ll prepare ourselves in a different way than, for example, the top teams. It’s always different on a game day, there are a lot of things that come into play.
"But, of course, we train on it, we work hard every day in training, there are a lot of things that we do on a daily basis.
"Now, it’s bit different because of the short period between the games, but we’ve been working hard on it and we’ll keep doing that to get better as a team, as always."
Hear more from Simon Mignolet in episode 35 of #LFCWORLD, which also features an in interview with comedian Russell Howard on his love for the Reds. Play the clip embedded above to watch on LFCTV GO, or check out the LFCTV schedule here.