Phil Jones says public criticism of Manchester United has fuelled the team 's recent revival . United are now odds-on to qualify for the Champions League after they recorded back-to-back wins over Tottenham and Liverpool . Such a double would have seemed impossible just a few months ago . Manager Louis van Gaal came under fire after his team put in a number of underwhelming displays . Phil Jones ( left ) celebrates after United 's 2-1 victory over top four rivals Liverpool on Sunday . Juan Mata ( left ) scored twice to put United in the driving seat for Champions League qualification . Some of the strongest criticism came from ex-United players like Gary Neville , who compared Van Gaal 's side to a pub team and Paul Scholes , who labelled some of United 's play 'prehistoric ' . But with United now five points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool , their critics have fallen silent . 'People criticising does spur you on , ' Jones said . 'You are always going to get critics . We are at a massive club here at Manchester United and if things are n't going as well as they should be then there is always going to be people wanting to have a dig and a pop at you . Jones admits that public criticism sparked United 's impressive performances in recent weeks . United also defeated Tottenham in their previous Premier League game at Old Trafford . '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 . '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 . So far we have done that . ' Jones has come in for criticism himself this season , but he and Chris Smalling performed well against a fierce Liverpool attack at Anfield and the two kept 29-goal striker Harry Kane quiet in the 3-0 win over Spurs . Jones and Smalling were identified as long-term replacements for Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic at United . Jones and his United team-mates applaud supporters after their away win at Anfield . Jones and fellow defender Chris Smalling ( centre ) were once doubted as the future of England 's defence . The pair were also touted as alternatives to the Ferdinand-John Terry partnership with England , but as Jones points out , they have not played together often as a centre-half pairing . 'It has been difficult for us , ' said Jones , who has played alongside Smalling at centre-back for England just once . '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 played alongside each other about four times in four seasons . 'You can not build a partnership on four games . 'Hopefully now we have had back-to-back games together we can keep it going and keep playing well together . We complement each other well . '
Red Devils moved five points clear of Liverpool in the race for a Champions League finish with victory at Anfield on Sunday . Louis van Gaal 's side has been criticised for under performing this term . Phil Jones reveals Manchester United were spurred on by public condemnation .