Enrique: I'm loving the battle
Jose Enrique has welcomed the extra competition for starting berths added to Liverpool’s defensive ranks this summer, insisting: 'We're all fighting for our places.'
Kolo Toure, Mamadou Sakho, Aly Cissokho and Tiago Ilori were among eight new signings made by Brendan Rodgers during the transfer window, significantly bolstering the Reds' rear-guard options.
Enrique admits the competition is fierce but believes it will only prove beneficial as Liverpool go in search of success.
The Spaniard told Liverpoolfc.com: "The competition is very good for us. We also have Aly [Cissokho] as well, although he is injured now.
"It takes the maximum from you and with the manager, the players who deserve to play and do well will play for him. It's important to have someone behind you that you know could take your place."
Enrique lined up alongside one of his newer defensive colleagues for the first time on Monday night as Sakho was handed a Liverpool debut in the 2-2 draw at Swansea City.
The No.3 is already forming a bond with the former Paris Saint-Germain star and predicts he has a bright future ahead of him at Anfield.
Enrique revealed: "I spoke with him a couple of days ago [after Swansea]. He's a great guy and I really, really like him as a player.
"He did well on Monday, but of course he hadn't played for two months. You can see with the ball he is good, in the air he is very, very good and I really liked playing alongside him.
"He'll have to learn a little bit more English for the main words you have to know as a defender. This is really important for communication, but he is a top player."
Sakho wasn't the only new face in Liverpool's line-up at the Liberty Stadium as Victor Moses also made his debut following a deadline day loan switch from Chelsea.
The Nigeria forward marked a lively display with a well-taken first-half goal, and Enrique is confident he can establish himself as a key member of the first-team set up.
"I knew about him from when he was at Wigan and he always seemed like a very good player," he said.
"He has also not played for a long time, so in the second half he was a little bit tired - but in the first half he was one of our best players. The goal he scored was fantastic.
"I think he is a player like Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge that can change a game at any point - and it's very important to have players like this."
Moses' goal in Wales added to a Sturridge equaliser that had cancelled out Jonjo Shelvey's opener.
However, Michu's second-half effort meant the spoils were shared in a 2-2 draw - a fair reflection of the contest, according to Enrique.
"They played quite well in the second half and it's always a difficult stadium to go to," he considered.
"For me, they're one of the best teams in the league in terms of the way they play football, so I think a point was okay for us on the night.
"The manager said before the game, more than anyone he knows what it's like to play there and it's a difficult place to go and get points.
"In the end, we got a point even though they were pressing quite a lot. After four games, we have 10 points and no-one expected this start from us. It's been a very, very good start."
Swansea's goals were the first Liverpool had conceded in the Barclays Premier League this season.
Enrique admits feeling a sense of frustration - but not because the Reds' goals against column had been blotted for the first time.
"It wasn't because of the record, it was because we knew if we kept a clean-sheet we would have won the game 2-0," he said. "That's the most important thing. Records are nice, but the most important thing is to get the points.
"The most important thing for a defender is to try and keep a clean-sheet - and with the players we have in front of us, if we can do that I think we're going to get a lot of points."