Mignolet pledges reaction for City
Simon Mignolet pledged that Liverpool will target an immediate response against Manchester City this Sunday after being knocked out of the Europa League by Besiktas.
A 1-0 reversal at the Ataturk Stadium - following a late goal from Tolgay Ali Arslan for the hosts - demanded extra-time in Turkey and ultimately penalties to decide progress to the last 16.
Mignolet struggled to get near Besiktas' spot-kicks as all five were lashed into each corner, but the travellers held their own from 12 yards with their opening four of the shootout too.
However, when defender Dejan Lovren could only direct his attempt over the crossbar, the Reds' quest for success in the continental competition was officially at an end.
"Everyone is devastated to go out, especially like that at the end of 120 minutes," Mignolet reflected to the Liverpool Echo after the match.
"Having put so much effort into the game, it's a real disappointment to go out.
"We defended well for 120 minutes. We practice penalties every week in training but a shootout is always a lottery and it's so disappointing to go out.
"I've always said when you win, when you lose, when you go through, when you go out, it's always as a squad. You are always together in good moments and bad moments.
"I think 1-0 at home was a good result for us. Then you hope to score an away goal but it didn't happen. Besiktas played well.
"We have to look forward and prepare ourselves as best we can. We need to recover and then go again on Sunday.
"It's another big game and we need to try to get back to winning ways. We have to focus on the job in hand."
The Europa League had offered a potential alternative route back into the Champions League, with the winners earning a place in next season's elite tournament.
But Thursday's elimination means the Reds must now try to achieve that aim through claiming a top four spot in the Barclays Premier League by the end of the campaign.
A 2-0 victory at Southampton last weekend bolstered that objective by closing the gap, and next up is a formidable challenge in the form of champions City at Anfield.
Mignolet said: "We always said we want to get in the Champions League for next season. Of course we can do it.
"We're still in the FA Cup and we're close to the top four in the Premier League so there is still a lot to play for this season.
"It's not easy at this moment when you've just come out of the dressing room and we've gone out of the Europa League but we have to put it behind us.
"On Friday morning our preparations start for the Manchester City game."