'Why I thrive in the Prem'
Martin Skrtel has sharpened his competitive edge by revealing his appetite for battling encounters at the most daunting venues.
The Slovakian centre-back insists he thrives on English football's notoriously tough trips, something evident in Liverpool's 2-1 Carling Cup success at Stoke's Britannia Stadium recently - a venue that left him without a win in his four previous visits.
"As everyone knows, going there is very difficult," said the 26-year-old defender. "They are so dangerous, even from a throw-in near the halfway line they cause you problems. Delap can throw the ball into the six yard box from there.
"For me though, I like those type of games. You have to battle and fight and be strong for the entire 90 minutes. In English football you get very little time on the ball, away from home sometimes you don't even get a single second. Almost every team has at least one big striker. I enjoy competing against them, challenging and making tackles. It's not possible to win the ball every time but it's always my aim."
Further evidence Skrtel is not one to settle for the quiet life comes in the form of fatherhood, with the defender's partner giving birth to their son Matteo at the start of October.
"Before the baby arrived I was a little worried about the stuff you have to do, like changing nappies or giving him food," he said, the pride of a new parent clearly visible on his face. "But I've been doing it and it's not as difficult as I imagined. It's still tough, but it's nice too. It's great to look at him and know he's your son and your blood.
"It obviously means you get less sleep. Barbora, my girlfriend, has been doing a lot more (than me). I've been sleeping in the spare room sometimes if I need to rest before or after a game. "
The full Martin Skrtel interview, plus an exclusive with Brazilian midfielder Lucas and the chance to win one of 25 Panini LFC Starter Packs, is in this week's LFC magazine.