LIVERPOOL -- Everton keeper Tim Howard has said city rivals Liverpool got it wrong by dropping Simon Mignolet.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has used Brad Jones for the Reds' last two games after a series of inconsistent performances by the Belgium international. Rodgers said that Mignolet had been dropped "indefinitely" to allow him to regain his form "out of the firing line."

But U.S. international Howard said that such a public gesture by the Liverpool boss could destroy the former Sunderland keeper's confidence.

Howard, speaking at the launch of his autobiography "The Keeper," said: "I feel for Simon, even though he's a Red. It's hard as a goalkeeper.

"I think the quote is 'taking the goalkeeper out of the spotlight.' But it only sheds more light on him.

"I don't agree with it. I think you have to go with a goalkeeper and appreciate that there are going to be ups and downs, especially in this league. It's so fast, it's so rough. It's a tough league for goalkeepers. But I feel for him. It's not easy."