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Liverpool was heartbroken Wednesday night in Barcelona, but his quest to win the Premier League is still underway. The campaign has been remarkable and, with 91 points on the board, they will continue Manchester City to the end.
Before Saturday's crucial trip to Newcastle, said long-time goalkeeper Simon Mignolet Sportsmail the history of the season from the point of view of the players.
The Belgian has made the trip every step of the way, seeing the ups and downs, and knows that Liverpool can still dream.
Simon Mignolet has been a significant presence on the ground for Liverpool this campaign
The Belgian thinks that Anfield's group has what it takes to be a champion one day
Dream big
After reaching the Champions League final last May, Liverpool signed four big summer rookies and had a successful start to the season. The key moment for the team however was the night when Paris Saint-Germain arrived in town in September and was dismantled.
SIMON MIGNOLET: Everything started so well. We had four victories before the first international break. On our return, we then had Tottenham at Wembley and PSG at home in the Champions League, two of the best teams in the world.
We defeated the Spurs 2-1, then scored three goals against PSG and swept them away. If we could play that way against Edinson Cavani, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, why could not we do it to everyone? We knew we did not need to be afraid of anyone.
We had run well the previous season, but we knew people would wonder if we could maintain it. So this game was the reference. It's there that it all started.
Mignolet spoke exclusively to Sportsmail & # 39; s Dominic King about the Liverpool season up to now
SQUAD UNITY
Jurgen Klopp emphasized how well the Liverpool locker room was handled. Mignolet's role may have changed in the past 12 months, but he is an important member behind the scenes and the inclusive atmosphere has been essential to maintaining fitness.
MS: I have never been to a lodge where there were no problems at some point.
There will always be something where someone will not talk to someone or will not hear.
Along with his prolific goals, Sadio Mane also tries to make his teammates laugh.
But this is not the case with this team. It's been like this for a year. Nobody speaks behind the back of anyone, nobody has a grudge.
Sadio Mane always tries to be the joker but his jokes are not always funny – people ended up laughing with him rather than by the joke he'd made!
There are a lot of jokes … Robbo (Andy Robertson), Milly (James Milner), Virg (Virgil van Dijk) – it comes from all sides.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp underlined how well the Liverpool locker room was handled.
Disturbing times
It's easy to look at Liverpool's results and think that progress has been steady, but it's not. Autumn brought substandard League performances and poor Champions League results. A 2-0 defeat at the Red Star Belgrade was a line in the sand.
MS: October and November were difficult. We lost to Naples far away, drew Manchester City home, drew to Arsenal and then lost to Belgrade. Anything that could have gone wrong that night went wrong.
The main thing that resulted was the doubt. The director was so dissatisfied. We stayed in Belgrade and the big question we asked was, "Why are we doing this?" It turned out to be a game we learned more about. We had to make sure that did not happen in the Premier League.
The defeat at Red Star Belgrade in November was a turning point
DEFINITION OF DAYS
The send-off for Liverpool took place on December 2, after beating Everton 1-0 in the Merseyside derby with a Divock Origi goal in overtime. The victories that have resonated most will be a surprise.
MS: I do not show much my feelings, but when Divock scored, I jumped off the bench! I was sitting next to Adam Lallana and James Milner and the noise in the stadium was amazing. This victory was huge.
But I will choose three others: Brighton in January. We lost two games against Manchester City and the Wolves, and the match was dead, no chance for either team. Then Mo (Salah) scored a penalty. A week later, we beat Crystal Palace 4-3. A crazy game but so much, so important. These six points were huge. One misstep and it makes a big difference. Then recently we had Cardiff.
As in Belgrade, everything was set up so that we failed. A dry pitch, a heat of 30 degrees. What we did that day to win 2-0 made it one of our best performances.
Mignolet has named the last winner of the Merseyside Derby, Divock Origi, as "big" moment
MO MAGIC
Salah has had another great season and may well keep the Golden Boot. If he does, Mignolet will have done his part to help.
MS: He is sitting next to me in the coach when we go to games. He asks me about the penalties and the ideas of the opposing goalkeeper. I will tell him that he should do this or that. We practice the penalties the day before a match and we work together.
I'm trying to do as the goalkeeper he will face the next day, to make it as realistic as possible.
The big thing about Mo? He is a cult hero in Egypt. People forget how much he is in the Muslim world.
Mohamed Salah could still win the Golden Boot after a new exceptional season
We went to Dubai in January for a training camp and he was everywhere. He is like a statue.
He carries all this on his shoulders and he does it so well, as if the pressure was nothing. He is down-to-earth, always the same guy as when he signed. Wherever we go, there is attention for him.
When there are crowds around the coach shouting "Salah! Salah! we join them and make it funny.
But he has an example to give. He has so much talent but he works so hard to help.
Mignolet hailed the way the Egyptian attacker handles all the pressure of his status
Personal anxieties
Mignolet has not played in the Premier League this season. The signature of Alisson Becker in the amount of £ 65 million made it # 2, but it blocked any personal disappointment. His attitude is so good that Klopp and Milner have both emphasized his role.
MS: Me and my wife are building a house in Spain. I speak some languages and last year we decided to take Spanish classes. Then Ali came and I do not need any more lessons since I speak Spanish with him!
As a goalie, you learn from the guys you work with. He is Brazil No. 1 ahead of Ederson. The main difference between the two is that Ali is probably better with his hands. He is the most complete custodian of my career. He is so calm.
Do not play is the hard part, the feeling of being on the field in the end when you won is what I miss the most. I understand how people who do not play stop doing their job. That's why I push myself every day. I'm going to the gym at 9am. The boys must look at me and think, "What's that idiot doing here again?"
Alisson is established as the first choice of Liverpool and Mignolet has qualified as "full"
THE FINAL ACT
Mignolet was part of the last Reds team to have contested the title in 2014. Whatever happens next week, he believes this group has what it takes to be a champion someday.
MS: The manager is perfect for the club. His vision and character embody what the fans live for. The style of play we have is what the fans want, they want to see the fire. They want to see Liverpool push, fight.
It would be strange – and very frustrating – not to win anything, but the only thing that would prevent it is that the opposition (Manchester City) is as good. All the credit to them if that is the case. The number of points we have accumulated would mean that we are champions in a normal year.
We followed the process to get where we want to be and the team grew up. We should have something someday.
Mignolet was part of the Liverpool team for the 2014 title and played in the loss to Chelsea
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