Skrtel: They'll be a threat

The Slovakian is set to make only his second start in the group stages of the Europa League on a night when the Reds will look to take the opportunity to secure qualification with a game to spare should results go in their favour.

In previous Europa League clashes, Brendan Rodgers' side have been tasked with keeping the likes of Samuel Eto'o and Antonio Di Natale at bay; however, Skrtel insists Young Boys, who put three past the Reds in Bern, still have the firepower to trouble the Reds.

"I don't think it is any different as a defender," he told Liverpoolfc.com. "Of course there is a difference in the names and reputations of the forwards but on the pitch every player tries to do their best. 

"For me as a defender it is no different if I play against, for example, Samuel Eto'o or if I play against a striker from Young Boys - I just try to prevent them from scoring and make sure that I do my job.

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"This competition is very important to us all because the Europa League is the second-biggest competition in European football after the Champions League and it's a great chance for the young players to get into the team for the league games.

"That is the reason why we will try so hard to qualify for the next round."

Skrtel has become something of a veteran on European nights at Anfield down the years since he joined the club in January 2008. 

However, throughout the current campaign, the Slovakian has taken a back seat in all but one of the Reds' Europa League group stage games, as Brendan Rodgers has sought to give youth a chance.

The No.37 was an onlooker when the Reds emerged with the points after a 5-3 win over Young Boys in Switzerland and while he admitted it was a thrilling game to watch, he insisted he will be aiming for a more solid defensive display when the two sides meet again on Thursday night.

"I didn't play the first game in Switzerland but I watched it on TV," he said. "The game there was a little bit crazy as a 5-3 result in football is very uncommon. 

"For a defender it's not good if you concede goals, so I would much prefer a 1-0 or 2-0 win. I always prefer it when we keep a clean sheet - but if you look back on the 5-3 result, at least we got the three points.

"We watched a video of the opposition this morning and we know their strengths and weaknesses. So we will just try to exploit their weaknesses. When we play at Anfield, we have to show we are the better team and we must beat the opposition.

"But we can't focus on them, we want to play our own game and get the three points in this game."

Skrtel was part of the Liverpool side who claimed an impressive 3-0 victoryover Wigan at Anfield on Saturday and he believes that his own performances and that of the squad in general have turned a corner following a shaky start to the Barclays Premier League campaign.

So much so that a top-four finish at the end of this season is not, in Skrtel's opinion, unachieveble. 

"We have gone seven games in a row unbeaten and we'll try to carry on this way," he insisted. "I think top four is a realistic aim because in our last few games we have turned in great performances and got good results. We have to carry on in this way and if we do, we can get what we want.

"The start of the season wasn't the best for us but things are getting better and there's not such a gap between where we are now and where we want to be at the end of the season. 

"The start of the season wasn't the best for me either. I made mistakes but I have learned from that. And in each game, I try to do my best and try to play the best I can. 

"At the beginning of the season, the new manager came in and changed a few things. He changed the way we played and we knew that needed time.

"We needed to learn new tactics and ideas. We have worked together for four months now and I think things are starting to work for us."

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