'I'll do everything to keep them out'
Jon Flanagan has spoken of his determination to fend off stern competition and nail down a place in the Liverpool side after four consecutive starts in the Barclays Premier League.
The 20-year-old has kept the likes of Martin Kelly and Aly Cissokho out of the team since stepping in to replace the injured Jose Enrique in November.
Flanagan's man of the match display against Everton at Goodison Park ensured he remained in the starting XI for the matches against Hull City, Norwich City and West Ham United.
And the full-back, who has been involved with the first team since early 2011, believes an extended run in the side has helped raise his self-esteem around Melwood.
"After playing a couple of games on the bounce, you feel more involved and feel part of the squad," Flanagan told Liverpoolfc.com. "You feel a lot more confident when you're in the squad.
"I take it game by game; I've got to continue working hard. If I keep getting the opportunity to play, I've got to take that chance.
"There is good competition for places in our squad at the minute. To be picked ahead of them [Kelly and Cissokho] is great and shows that the manager has got trust in me. I've got to do everything I can to keep my place in the team and keep them out.
"My aim is to always play as well as possible and help the team keep getting points. I want to keep playing and, if Jose comes back, I'll just keep working hard and see what happens."
Flanagan even managed to steal the plaudits from the simply unplayable Luis Suarez with his ruthless and uncompromising derby display at Goodison Park.
However, over the last week, the Uruguayan has grabbed all the headlines - first with a sensational four-goal haul against Norwich and then with a brace to sink West Ham.
For Flanagan, it's an honour to train and share a dressing room with such an irrepressible talent.
"Everyone knows how good he is," said the defender. "To be on the same pitch as him is brilliant for me.
"Every day he shocks people, every day he is on fire in training. He probably surprises others a lot more than he surprises us, because he is like that every day in training.
"It was great for me to witness it and be on the same pitch. It was unbelievable, all four goals; the free-kick was probably the worst one on the night. It was brilliant by him."