Simon: Team spirit sent Reds through
Simon Mignolet credited the 'amazing' team spirit of Liverpool for a determined comeback that earned a spot in the last eight of the FA Cup on Saturday night.
Crystal Palace were the opponents and Selhurst Park the venue - a combination that had caused misery for the Reds in each of their previous two meetings.
So when Fraizer Campbell gleefully pounced on a loose ball to deliver a finish underneath Mignolet on 15 minutes, Kopites were forgiven for fearing the worst.
But not this time. No, a different, indefatigable Liverpool emerged for the second half and soon the tables had been firmly turned on Alan Pardew's Eagles.
Jordan Henderson teed up Daniel Sturridge to volley home an equaliser and progress was in touching distance courtesy of an Adam Lallana rebound shortly before the hour mark.
Palace did not give up, of course, but the travellers' resolute mentality allowed scenes of deserved celebrations upon the final whistle in London.
"[Team spirit] is amazing at the moment," Mignolet enthused to Liverpoolfc.com inside the tunnel at Selhurst Park.
"Everybody is fighting for each other and doing their jobs individually. It's always nice to get a victory as a team, that's what you want.
"The spirit is high and we have to build on that and keep doing the things we're doing at the moment. There's another game and we have to look forward to that one.
"We started the game slowly and went behind, but everybody showed a lot of character to fight back and we got through to the next round.
"That's what we wanted, that's why we came here. We have to build on that. Everybody is pleased in the dressing room.
"If you compare the last time we came here and today's game, we are very pleased with the victory and that we are still in the FA Cup."
Manager, players and fans alike were under no illusions as to the size of the challenge awaiting Liverpool against Palace in the fifth round contest.
They were bruised by a 3-1 reversal on the same turf three months ago - a result that ultimately proved the catalyst for what is now a steely run of form.
Mignolet admitted an additional sense of satisfaction to have dealt with the hosts' threats, which laid the foundations for the Reds' second-half fightback.
He said: "You knew before the game that it was going to happen - long balls and high balls into the box. We had to defend it.
"That's what we did; we got through and we're very pleased that we're still in the FA Cup. Everybody showed great character and spirit.
"The team played really well, everybody did their jobs. We fought and won the battle, which you always have to do first in every football match. That's what we did today."