Simon Mignolet’s improved form is no surprise to Liverpool legend Ray Clemence

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The goalkeeper regards the Belgian highly.

After a shaky start to the season Simon Mignolet has looked much more comfortable between the sticks in recent times – something that has not been missed by Liverpool legend Ray Clemence.

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The former goalkeeper thinks the current No.1 choice for the Reds is now a reliable figure in the starting XI and Clemence is not surprised that Mignolet’s form has bounced back.

“Simon deserves great credit for how he has turned things around,” the 66-year-old told the Liverpool Echo.

“He’s making vital saves and helping his team win matches.

“It just shows what a difference confidence makes. He had a tough time earlier in the season.

“After being left out he had the bonus of coming back into the team earlier than he would have expected after Brad Jones got injured. Since returning to the team he has got better and better.

“He hasn’t surprised me because I knew he had it in him. He had an exceptional season for Sunderland before Liverpool bought him.

“Earlier this season he endured a spell where things weren’t going right for him but he went away and worked on a few things. There are still a few areas I’m sure he’d like to improve on further but he’s having an excellent time of it and long may it continue.”

Clemence knows what it takes to succeed at Anfield, winning five league titles and three European Cups – among many other honours – during an impressive 14-year spell at the club.

Whilst Mignolet is of course some way off emulating that sort of success, it is true that the Belgium international has looked a lot more confident in recent times.

Apart from a 1-0 Capital One Cup semi-final second-leg defeat to Chelsea we remain unbeaten in 2015 in all competitions and with the 26-year-old in goal the chances of winning a trophy this term and qualifying for the Champions League look all the more likely.

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