Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has played down recent reports suggesting he is unhappy with life on Merseyside since his move from Zenit St Petersburg almost a year ago.

Reports said that the big 24-year-old central defender, who is currently sidelined until Christmas through a knee injury, was lonely and looking for a January transfer back to Russia.

But the Slovakia international insists he is happy and is going nowhere. He said, ‘œI am very happy here at Anfield. It was always my dream to play here in England and I’m with one of the biggest clubs in the world.

‘œI spoke to my friend in Russia and we talked about Zenit. I have great friends there but I never said I am not happy here, and I never said I didn’t like the city.

‘œI didn’t say the city is boring. That’s just not true and I’d like to repeat I am very happy here.

‘œThis is a special club and a city with a lot of history. I have been made to feel very welcome here at Liverpool. I enjoy life in Liverpool.’