Phil Jones says Manchester United have been motivated by the criticism they have received this season.
The United defender feels they have proved their doubters wrong on a run that has put them on course to qualify for the Champions League.
United have only lost two of their last 20 league games and have established a five-point cushion in fourth place after beating Tottenham and Liverpool in successive games.
Many tipped United to lose at Anfield and Jones said: "We have proved people wrong up to now. People can assume and predict and it is up to us to prove them all wrong. That is what the lads enjoy doing. We enjoy proving them wrong.
"People criticising does spur you on. You are always going to get critics. We are at a massive club here at Manchester United and if things aren't going as well as they should be then there is always going to be people wanting to have a pop at you.
"We have been well aware of the criticism we have had. We are professionals and we are in a job where people have an opinion about you and they are entitled to it and we just have to get on with it.
"We just take it on the chin. It is water off a duck's back to us. We know if we continue to produce performances like this week and last then I am sure we will be fine."
Jones has formed a fine centre-back partnership in the last two games with Chris Smalling and he hopes he and his fellow Englishman can belatedly be given the chance to play together regularly.
They came to Old Trafford in 2011 and 2010 respectively but, with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic at the club then and Jonny Evans and Marcos Rojo offering other options this season, they have rarely started in the centre of defence.
"It has been difficult for us," Jones added. "It had been documented that me and Chris were going to be the next centre-backs at United but it has not gone how we would have liked it.
"Somebody told me the other day that we have actually only we played alongside each other about four times in four seasons. You cannot build a partnership on four games. Hopefully now can keep it going and keep playing well together. We complement each other well."