Liverpool travel to Cardiff City today aiming to protect an unbeaten Barclays Premier League record this calendar year – a statistic that's fueling their belief and confidence, according to Martin Skrtel.

The Reds were last defeated in the top flight by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on December 29. They've since won eight and drawn two of their 10 matches since, scoring 32 times and conceding just 11 to go second in the table.

And as Brendan Rodgers' men prepare to return to action in Wales, Skrtel insists such figures are cause for buoyancy within the dressing room.

He told Liverpoolfc.com: "It gives us confidence because we know we are playing well, getting points and putting in good performances.

"Every single player from this squad is enjoying their football at the moment. You can see that in the atmosphere in the training sessions and in games - it's perfect.

"We just need to keep going and keep showing that every single day in training and in the games as well."

While Liverpool head into the contest in second place in the Barclays Premier League, Cardiff are just one position off the bottom in the table.

Having been a part of English football for six years, Skrtel is all too aware the dangers of taking on a team fighting for survival are more than just cliché.

However, with the Reds' need for three points equally as great, the Slovakian is confident they can return to Merseyside with a full haul.

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"I think that was the problem in the past...we didn't get the points in the games we should have got them," he said. "It's something we've improved this season and hopefully we can carry on.

"We know it's not going to be an easy game because Cardiff are fighting against relegation and need the points - but we are the same.

"We know what we're fighting for, this is another game we need the three points in, and we'll try to do that. We'll do everything possible - everything we can - to get them.

Skrtel continued: "Everything [has improved]. Last season we showed a few performances and got a few results, but we couldn't get more.

"It's something we've improved this season. Now we have nine games to go and are almost at the top of the table - the place we wanted to be before the start of the season. We will just carry on, keep fighting and I believe we can finish in the top four, and we'll try to finish as high as we can."

The last time Liverpool found themselves in this position in the table at this stage of the season was 2008-09 when they went on to finish second.

Skrtel was part of that squad, but admits he holds different emotions this time around.

"I think it's different now because now I am older, more experienced and I am feeling even better now," he concluded.

"That season we finished second - if we could finish even higher it would obviously be better!

"But we're not looking too far ahead; we are going from game to game and trying to get as many points as we can. Then, we'll see where we finish at the end of the season."