Phil Jones admits to being spurred on by Manchester United critics

Phil Jones admits criticism of him and his Manchester United team-mates have helped fire the club into the top four in the Premier League.

Sunday's 2-1 victory at Anfield over Liverpool put five points between United in fourth and their opponents in fifth with only eight games remaining.

Some of the strongest criticism early into Louis van Gaal's tenure came from ex-United players like Gary Neville, who compared the Dutchman's side to a pub team and Paul Scholes, who labelled some of United's play "prehistoric".

"People criticising does spur you on," Jones said.

"You are always going to get critics. We are at a massive club here at Manchester United and if things aren't going as well as they should be, then there is always going to be people wanting to have a dig and a pop at you.

"We have been well aware of the criticism we have had. We are professionals and we are in a job where people have an opinion about you and they are entitled to it and we just have to get on with it.

You are always going to get critics. We are at a massive club here at Manchester United and if things aren't going as well as they should be, then there is always going to be people wanting to have a dig and a pop at you.

"People can assume and predict and it is up to us to prove them all wrong. That is what the lads enjoy doing. We enjoy proving them wrong. So far we have done that."

Jones in particular has come in for criticism himself this season, but he and Chris Smalling performed well against a fierce Liverpool attack at Anfield and the two kept 29-goal striker Harry Kane quiet in the 3-0 home win over Spurs.

Jones and Smalling were identified by Sir Alex Ferguson as long-term replacements for Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic at United.

The pair were also touted as a possible solution at the heart of England's defence, but Jones points out they have not played together often as a centre-half pairing for the national team.

"It has been difficult for us," said Jones, who has played alongside Smalling at centre-back for England just once.

"It had been documented that me and Chris were going to be the next centre-backs at United but it has not gone how we would have liked it.

"Somebody told me the other day that we have actually only played alongside each other about four times in four seasons.

"You cannot build a partnership on four games.

"Hopefully now we have had back-to-back games together we can keep it going and keep playing well together. We complement each other well."

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