Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has admitted that he returned "stronger" following his axing by manager Brendan Rodgers earlier this season.

The 27-year-old was dropped to the bench "indefinitely" prior to his side's Premier League meeting against Manchester United in December due to a string of disappointing performances between the sticks.

However, an injury to stand-in stopper Brad Jones paved the way for Mignolet to return, and he has grabbed the chance by both hands to help the Reds go unbeaten in the top flight in their last 13 outings.

Speaking ahead of the reverse meeting against arch-rivals United this afternoon, the Belgian told Goal.com: "At that time, it gave me a chance to reflect on my game, something you don't really have the chance to when you are playing two games a week.

"You are going in from the game, then after the game you are thinking about recovery, you are analysing the last performance and preparing for the next performance.

"You don't really have the chance to think about things to improve, and that gave me the chance – it was only two weeks because of the injury to Brad – it gave me the time to sit down with the coaches and the gaffer, reflect on a couple of occasions, took me out of it a bit to come back stronger."

Mignolet has kept 12 clean sheets in his 27 appearances for Liverpool this season in all competitions.