Momentum high on Mignolet's wishlist
Liverpool may have kicked off their 2013-14 Barclays Premier League campaign with three victories and three clean sheets but there is no chance of catching goalkeeper Simon Mignolet resting on his laurels.
The Belgian has enjoyed a seamless transition to life at Anfield after completing a summer switch from Sunderland, where the stopper recorded 30 shut-outs in 90 top-flight appearances.
A 1-0 victory over Manchester United at the beginning of the month ensured Brendan Rodgers' team entered the international break at the summit of the division - although that did not stop the boss from making three signings on deadline day.
Now the international 'keeper has called on his teammates to relish the new competition within the dressing room and maintain their early-season form when they travel to Swansea City on Monday.
Mignolet told Liverpoolfc.com: "Since I joined the club and after the games we have played, we can be very happy with how we've started. Three games won and that's what you want to start to the season.
"We've got three wins from the first three games played, so hopefully we can continue on that, progress and manage to play the coming games at the same level as we did the first couple of games.
"When you join the club as a new goalkeeper you want to do well in the first few games you play; keeping three clean sheets helped me to settle and also my confidence. It's a good way to start.
"Now I just want to continue that way. I saw back in Belgium when I was on international duty that the club also signed three more players at the end of the transfer window - which is always good to get competition inside the dressing room.
"We have a very good squad at the moment to go ahead and play the remainder of the season.
"It's a confident feeling looking at the table. I saw it on the television when I came back from Belgium.
"We have to make sure we continue in the manner that we started the league, starting with a very important game on Monday against Swansea. Hopefully we can do the same thing as we have done in the games we have already played."
On Rodgers' first return to the Liberty Stadium last November, the Reds produced an impressive performance but were restricted to a goalless draw by the Welsh hosts.
Mignolet insisted that while the table-toppers were entitled to enjoy the international break in first place, the hard work must resume immediately against the manager's former side.
The 25-year-old added: "The manager was pleased before the lads went off for the international break that we did our jobs until the game against Manchester United.
"But that's behind us now - we have to make sure that we're focused on doing the same things in the coming games.
"Swansea are always a good footballing team, a side who want to play the ball. Away from home at their place, it's never going to be an easy game. But we just have to look at ourselves and make sure we play our style of play.
"We want to do as well as we can and I don't think we have anything to fear. Let's make sure we're all focused and doing our jobs the way we want to."
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The catalyst of Liverpool's unblemished start to the campaign was Mignolet's dramatic penalty save to deny Jonathan Walters when Stoke visited Anfield on the opening day of the season.
Having had a month to reflect on a dream debut for the club, the 'keeper explained his feeling at that moment in more depth and compared life with the Reds to his experience at the Stadium of Light.
"When it happens it all happens in an instant, so you don't really have too much time to reflect because there's a corner coming straight after as well - so you're focused on that," he said.
"But after the game, I was home together with my family and looked back at it on TV; it was a nice experience to see it again, and obviously if you do that in your first game as a Liverpool player in the Barclays Premier League, you're very happy.
"It boosted my confidence and it was a very special moment. Because of the save we won the game and it doesn't really happen often that as a goalkeeper you can be so decisive - especially in your first game.
"The difference is that at Sunderland I was more of a busy 'keeper than now. You have to make sure you're focused throughout the whole game, for the 90 minutes, and you have to play more with your feet.
"I'll try to do my best. I'm very pleased with how the first games went and I just want to do well again on Monday against Swansea."