'I have to prove myself every day'
Lucas Leiva accepts he will have to fight to remain a regular in Kenny Dalglish's new-look Liverpool team.
The Brazil international was voted our Player of the Year by fans last season, a decision which met with approval from club captain Steven Gerrard.
He also led Opta's tackling stats in becoming an integral part of the starting XI.
However, the arrival of Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam, as well as the return from loan of Alberto Aquilani, means Lucas faces stiff competition for a place in central midfield during 2011-12.
He told Liverpoolfc.tv: "We have a lot of midfielders at the club at the moment.
"It's always important to strengthen the squad and what do I think? I think I will have to fight again for my place. It's been like this all my years here and this season is going to be the same.
"In football you have to prove yourself every single day. In training you have to improve as a player. Of course I got the award last season but this season is a new challenge. There is more responsibility on me in the team. Hopefully I will cope well and have a great season."
As well as winning the supporters' vote on this site, Lucas collected the 'Golden Samba' trophy from representatives of the Red All Over the Land website after our final home game of the season.
Click on the play button below to watch our exclusive chat with Lucas
Despite being full of confidence about the campaign ahead, he's not banking on winning either award a second time running.
"It (the Golden Samba) is in my house," he said. "Every day I can see the trophy. It makes me very happy and gives me a lot of confidence and determination to keep going.
"It's not normal that a holding midfielder wins the award. Of course I'd love to win it but I don't think of individual awards. If me and the team play well we'll have our bonus at the end."
Three of the four players recruited by Dalglish this summer are British and Lucas thinks having a homegrown core will help our pursuit of honours in 2011-12.
"The English players know the mentality, they know the way the Premier League is played," he said.
"I think we have a good mix of foreign players and British players. For me, it's good because they know the mentality you need to be a winner at a club like Liverpool."