LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, October 5, 2013: Liverpool's Martin Skrtel in action against Crystal Palace during the Premiership match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Rejuvenated Martin Skrtel looks to cement his Liverpool starting place

Martin Skrtel says he is working hard to keep his place in Liverpool’s firs team after coming back into the set-up and holding down a starting position.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, October 5, 2013: Liverpool's Martin Skrtel in action against Crystal Palace during the Premiership match at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Skrtel was brought back to the defence for Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United at the start of September when Kolo Toure was ruled out through injury.

Since then he has kept his place in the starting eleven and impressed with commanding performance showing both his strength and leadership.

In recent games he has kept Daniel Agger out of the team, with Toure and new signing Mamadou Sakho joining him to form the Reds’ back three.

The Slovakian international knows that in Agger he has still competition to keep his place, but is delighted to be back playing after spending most of last season playing second-fiddle to Jamie Carragher.

“After last season when I couldn’t get into the team, this season has been very different so far,” Skrtel told the Liverpool Echo.

“I am very happy. I am playing every game and trying to do my best for the team.

“Now I have to try to stay in the starting XI. It’s up to me to keep proving to the manager that I deserve a place.

“There is real competition for places at the back but that’s good for everybody. It’s important because it pushes everyone to do better. You have to show what you can do every day in training and you know that if don’t perform there’s someone waiting to take your place.”

Liverpool next face West Brom at home in the Premier League this Saturday, 26th October.

Would you keep Skrtel in Liverpool’s first team? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or on Twitter @thisisanfield.

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