Joel Matip: I feel the soul of this club
Joel Matip is just 12 games into his Liverpool career, but appears to have already fallen in love with the club.
The defender's first few months on Merseyside following a summer move from Schalke have seen him establish himself as a key man in defence for Jürgen Klopp's team.
A foot injury forced the 25-year-old to miss the first two Premier League matches of the season, but he has been an ever-present since as the Reds have climbed to second place.
And it seems the club has made just as big an impact on Matip as he has on the pitch in the early stages of his time at Anfield.
“It's an honour and a joy to play for Liverpool. It's a great club. I've been able to help the team get some good results and I am really happy to be here,” he told the Liverpool Echo.
“For my whole life I was a Schalke fan. I grew up there and played for the club for 16 years. I worked hard and I had some luck along the way.
“My heart was at Schalke but now my ambitions are with Liverpool. I feel the soul of this club.
“This is a great club famous across the world for its supporters. Everyone respects Liverpool like no other club.”
Since recovering from the injury that delayed his English top-flight debut, Matip has been an assured presence at the heart of the Liverpool defence.
The ease with which he has adapted to life in a new league has proved a huge bonus for the Reds but, in typically humble fashion, the centre-back is keen to credit his teammates for his speedy transition.
“The beginning for me wasn't the best,” he admitted.
“I had the problem with my foot in pre-season but since then it's gone well. I have played a lot of games and I hope it will continue like this.
“The biggest difference compared to the Bundesliga is that there are so many teams playing for the title. There is so much quality.
“Why did I settle so quickly? My teammates helped me from the first day I was here. That support meant I could play my game.
“There are a lot of nice guys in the squad. We laugh a lot and hopefully we will achieve a lot.
“I'm also playing for a great coach who improves every player he works with. I still think I can improve and I know I will get better.”
The Cameroon international also rejected suggestions that the switch to England has been entirely effortless, adding: “No, no, no, it's not easy.
“I'm grateful that I've always had the help of my teammates.
“I always have Dejan [Lovren] and Clyney [Nathaniel Clyne] either side of me. They give me confidence. I can step out knowing they are behind me.”
The idea that Matip has found life in a new league straightforward has perhaps arisen from the tranquil manner in which he goes about the business of defending.
Discussing his approach to games, the defender said: “I am a calm person.
“I am not someone who is always shouting on the field. I try to keep my composure.
“I can't do it always. Sometimes I can get a bit angry, especially if a decision I want doesn't go my way!
“But I do try to stay calm on the field. It helps you to make the right decisions.”