Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has claimed that the next four months will be pivotal to Simon Mignolet's career at the club.

The keeper has come under criticism for his form this season and earlier this month his manager Brendan Rodgers revealed that he would be dropped for an "indefinite period".

However, an injury to Brad Jones saw him return to action in the Reds' victory over Burnley on Boxing Day, and Carragher believes that it is crucial he performs well between now and the end of the season.

"Mignolet has said that he has nothing to prove, but he has everything to prove between now and the end of the season," Carragher told Sky Sports News. "He's fighting for his career at Liverpool and he'll probably stay in the team between now and the end of the season, but he's also fighting perhaps for his whole career at a big club.

"He's come in from Sunderland, and no disrespect to them but they're what you'd call a middle-of-the-road club, so if Liverpool move him on, will he get a chance at a big club again?

"These next four months are pivotal to his whole career. It's been a real struggle for Liverpool this season and Rodgers has to keep that message [of a top-four finish] out there, and with their slight upturn in form, they're going to have to put together a real run."

Mignolet joined Liverpool from Sunderland last summer for a reported fee of £9m.