Liverpool star gives surprising assessment of display in Arsenal win

SIMON MIGNOLET insists Liverpool defended well in their 4-3 win over Arsenal on Sunday.

By Jonathan Green

PROTECTION: Simon Mignolet thinks Liverpool defended well against Arsenal

The Reds appeared to be cruising when they went 4-1 up after 63 minutes but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain responded immediately before Calum Chambers headed home from a free-kick to set up a nervy finish.

Left-back Alberto Moreno has also come in for heavy criticism after conceding a penalty, which Mignolet saved, and leaving Theo Walcott unmarked to put Arsenal ahead.

But Mignolet has defended the Reds' back four although admits lessons need to be learnt.

“I don’t think it was our mistakes which led to the goals being conceded,” Mignolet told the Liverpool Echo.

“I thought we defended really well, just like we did against Barcelona at Wembley.

“For the first goal we were a bit under the cosh and the second goal was unfortunate - a deflection we couldn’t have done anything about.

“The third goal was a set-piece where they took the free-kick early and we weren’t quite organised.

“When we made it 4-1 we needed to make sure we didn’t concede but one goal can change a game. That’s what happened with the deflection.

“The crowd got behind them again and they got a boost from that. But we kept our heads and got back to playing at the level we were at in the opening 20 minutes of the second half.

“Keeping the ball like that takes the pressure away from us. That’s what we need to be doing throughout the 90 minutes.”