New signing Jose Enrique dreams of making his debut in the Champions League with Liverpool but admits the battle for the top four will be closer than ever this season.
The 25-year-old made his debut for the Reds in last weekend's opening match of the Barclays Premier League against Sunderland, just over 24 hours after completing his £6million transfer from Newcastle.
He enjoyed a solid debut at left-back in which the team dominated the Black Cats in the first half but faded after the break and had to settle for a draw.
Enrique said part of the reason of moving to a big club like Liverpool was the lure of the Champions League, in which he is yet to play.
"Everyone wants to be there. I've never played in the Champions League and it's a dream for me," he said.
"You have to be realistic, it's really difficult this year because the Premier League is the best league in the world and six or seven or eight teams here are really good.
"It's very difficult to be there but if we play like we played in the first half against Sunderland I think we can be there."
Enrique is seen as the solution to what seems to have been an almost perennial problem at left-back for Liverpool.
But despite being thrust into the side after just one training session - as a result of a late injury to Fabio Aurelio - he is taking nothing for granted, although he is expected to start at Arsenal on Saturday.
"We have an amazing squad. There are two or three left-backs here, maybe more," he added.
"Fabio Aurelio is a really good player. He's been unlucky with injuries but he's really good. I saw him playing for Valencia.
"It's good for the players to have competition because you know your work is never done.
"I still need more time. I hope in the game [against Arsenal] I can play like I did for Newcastle but I think I need more matches to know the players and of course they need to know me more too."
Manager Kenny Dalglish was more than happy with the way the likeable Spaniard fitted in almost seamlessly against Sunderland.
And the Scot said it had been the same off the pitch.
Dalglish put that down to the fact the player already had plenty of experience of English football, having joined Newcastle from Villarreal in 2008.
"Jose has settled in very well. He is a good player, has experience in the Premier League and has settled into the way of life in England and that is helpful to us as well," said the Reds boss.
"It is always helpful when you know the environment you are in and for us that was an important factor when we were looking for a full-back.
"We wanted someone who had a knowledge of the game in the Premier League and certainly he had that last season and also the season when they got relegated."
And Dalglish joked: "He's been here three years; his English is better than mine and his football is better than mine - we are quite happy with the signing of Jose."
When it was pointed out it was a bold statement to say the Spaniard played better football than the Liverpool icon Dalglish quipped: "You've not seen me play recently."
The Scot said Enrique's arrival did not signal the end of reserve team defender Jack Robinson's first-team chances but pointed out it would have been unfair on the 17-year-old to expect him to withstand a gruelling league campaign while he is still developing.
"It is a position we had to strengthen," he explained.
"Young Jack Robinson has fantastic potential but we have to be responsible to Jack because he is 17 and to throw him in and expect him to play a full season would have been wrong.
"But he will be there or thereabouts."
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The 25-year-old made his debut for the Reds in last weekend's opening match of the Barclays Premier League against Sunderland, just over 24 hours after completing his £6million transfer from Newcastle.
He enjoyed a solid debut at left-back in which the team dominated the Black Cats in the first half but faded after the break and had to settle for a draw.
Enrique said part of the reason of moving to a big club like Liverpool was the lure of the Champions League, in which he is yet to play.
"Everyone wants to be there. I've never played in the Champions League and it's a dream for me," he said.
"You have to be realistic, it's really difficult this year because the Premier League is the best league in the world and six or seven or eight teams here are really good.
"It's very difficult to be there but if we play like we played in the first half against Sunderland I think we can be there."
Enrique is seen as the solution to what seems to have been an almost perennial problem at left-back for Liverpool.
But despite being thrust into the side after just one training session - as a result of a late injury to Fabio Aurelio - he is taking nothing for granted, although he is expected to start at Arsenal on Saturday.
"We have an amazing squad. There are two or three left-backs here, maybe more," he added.
"Fabio Aurelio is a really good player. He's been unlucky with injuries but he's really good. I saw him playing for Valencia.
"It's good for the players to have competition because you know your work is never done.
"I still need more time. I hope in the game [against Arsenal] I can play like I did for Newcastle but I think I need more matches to know the players and of course they need to know me more too."
Manager Kenny Dalglish was more than happy with the way the likeable Spaniard fitted in almost seamlessly against Sunderland.
And the Scot said it had been the same off the pitch.
Dalglish put that down to the fact the player already had plenty of experience of English football, having joined Newcastle from Villarreal in 2008.
"Jose has settled in very well. He is a good player, has experience in the Premier League and has settled into the way of life in England and that is helpful to us as well," said the Reds boss.
"It is always helpful when you know the environment you are in and for us that was an important factor when we were looking for a full-back.
"We wanted someone who had a knowledge of the game in the Premier League and certainly he had that last season and also the season when they got relegated."
And Dalglish joked: "He's been here three years; his English is better than mine and his football is better than mine - we are quite happy with the signing of Jose."
When it was pointed out it was a bold statement to say the Spaniard played better football than the Liverpool icon Dalglish quipped: "You've not seen me play recently."
The Scot said Enrique's arrival did not signal the end of reserve team defender Jack Robinson's first-team chances but pointed out it would have been unfair on the 17-year-old to expect him to withstand a gruelling league campaign while he is still developing.
"It is a position we had to strengthen," he explained.
"Young Jack Robinson has fantastic potential but we have to be responsible to Jack because he is 17 and to throw him in and expect him to play a full season would have been wrong.
"But he will be there or thereabouts."
more..
