The lessons that had to be learned from Liverpool's disappointment against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley will be at the forefront of players' minds in Sunday's Merseyside derby.

A sobering 4-1 reversal at the hands of a Premier League rival in October became the catalyst for an ongoing nine-game unbeaten run that has included 32 goals from Jürgen Klopp’s team.

Next on the fixture schedule is a 229th meeting with neighbours Everton, a crunch clash that comes on the back of a resounding 7-0 victory over Spartak Moscow in the Champions League.

The Reds had defeated Maribor by the same emphatic scoreline five days before the defeat by Spurs – and while Klopp’s men have every reason to be confident, Simon Mignolet noted the crucial need to learn from that precedent tomorrow.

Mignolet on the derby and defensive improvements

“[Wednesday’s result] will boost our confidence, although the last time we won with a big victory in the Champions League – away to Maribor – we had a difficult game after that against Tottenham,” he told Liverpoolfc.com.

“We have to learn from that and make sure it doesn’t happen again. But what a game to make sure we’re ready for it and concentrated on it, Everton in the derby. We’ll be up for it.

“It’s something special.”

Goals have flowed almost relentlessly in recent weeks, but Liverpool have tightened up at the other end too – keeping five clean sheets and conceding just six goals in those aforementioned nine outings.

The genesis of the side’s improvement in that area can be traced back to the aftermath of their Tottenham frustration as well, according to Mignolet.

“We knew after the Tottenham game something had to change. We spoke about it internally to defend in a different way,” said the goalkeeper.

“We responded in the best possible way after that. It’s not only about us scoring goals and creating chances, as we are doing at the moment. At the same time we’ve learned to be a lot more solid and defend our leads in certain moments.

“It’s not about the defence, the back four or any individual – it’s about the team. The boys who are scoring the goals are doing as big a job in defending as they are attacking. We need to continue with that and I’m sure we will.”

Everton make the short journey across Stanley Park having secured victory in each of their past three fixtures, and with a new manager at the helm in Sam Allardyce.

Mignolet expects his recent appointment to alter the challenge posed by Liverpool’s neighbours.

But that does not necessarily mean the Reds have to change their approach. It is quite the opposite, in the opinion of the stopper who has yet to taste defeat in a derby since signing for the club in 2013.

“[Allardyce] will set up a lot differently and approach this game in a different way to what it would have been two or three weeks ago,” he stated.

“But in the position we are and the moment we’re in, we have to look at ourselves, play our football and make sure that we put in the performance we need to get the three points. If we keep performing as we are in this moment I’m sure we’ve got enough quality in the side to make the difference.”