Simon Mignolet: 'Liverpool are learning how to defend'

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has acknowledged that his side "have to improve" at the back if they are to challenge for silverware this season.

The Reds' defensive frailties were clear to see once again in their opening Premier League fixture, as they were undone by a couple of set pieces in a 3-3 draw against Watford.

Liverpool responded well to that disappointing result by standing firm for 87 minutes in their 2-1 victory over Hoffenheim in a Champions League qualifier in midweek, but Mignolet concedes that more practice is needed on the training ground to further iron out the problems.

"We can only play one way and that is forward. We know that we can always score. We have so much style up front," The Guardian quotes him as saying. "We took a lot of steps defensively against Hoffenheim. We were solid, set pieces we defended well too and that is what we have to learn. We know what we have to improve after Watford and we have a good dressing room that will deal with that."

"When you are in the spotlight and play at the highest level in the Premier League and Champions League there are always going to be things thrown at you. You have to be strong enough characters to deal with that. We just try to improve in training and create the best team spirit to deal with everything.

"I think we have so much quality inside the team and with what we learned in the last ten games of last season we can definitely be successful. We have to look in the mirror and say it is only us who can change it. We know how long we had to fight to get that fourth place in the Premier League and we didn't want to throw it away by coming to Hoffenheim and spoiling the chance."

Liverpool take on Crystal Palace at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, before playing host to Hoffenheim four days later in the return leg of their Champions League playoff tie.