Simon Mignolet says he was right to foul Mame Diouf in Liverpool's win over Stoke

Thursday 30 November 2017 12:36, UK

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet says he was right to bring down Stoke's Mame Diouf, denying him an almost certain goal in Wednesday night's Premier League game at the bet365 Stadium.

The incident happened in the 39th minute with Liverpool leading 1-0.

Diouf was bearing down on the Liverpool goal when Mignolet charged out of his area and brought him down.

Referee Martin Atkinson controversially booked Mignolet when many in the ground, including Stoke manager Mark Hughes, were calling for a red card to be shown.

"I had to bring him down really because otherwise it's a goal and then it's 1-1. They had a free-kick to score from but we defended that," he said.

"It is a reaction and a bit of instinct at that moment in time but that is what I thought I had to do. Luckily it paid off.

"I can't say if I was the last man or not."

Asked whether he was worried Atkinson might send him off, Mignolet added: "It never crossed my mind.

"I was trying to line the ball up (for the free-kick) after that and that is what maybe helped me as if I had tried to say 'Oh it's not a red card' then maybe I'd have got one."

Liverpool went on to win the game 3-0, Mohamed Salah coming off the bench in the second half to score two more goals and keep his incredible run of form going, having scored seven in his last four league games.

"He's doing really well for us and he's really important for us," said Mignolet

"In the 20 minutes he had he showed his class and helped us out with two important goals and settled the game."

The win means Liverpool stay fifth on 26 points, two points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, ahead of the trip to Brighton on Saturday.