'This is my biggest challenge'
Alexander Doni admits competing with Pepe Reina for a place in Kenny Dalglish's first team is the 'biggest challenge' of his career so far - but it is one he's relishing.
The 31-year-old arrived at Anfield in July from Roma tasked with providing high-quality back-up to Liverpool's first-choice custodian.
"Without a shadow of a doubt, this is my biggest challenge," Doni told the official LFC Magazine. "At club level, I have never worked with such a huge goalkeeper.
"I have worked with Julio Cesar at international level, but at club level never anyone like Pepe.
"That does not alter the fact that I will have to do my best in order to challenge the position of Pepe Reina at Liverpool."
Reina hasn't missed a single minute of Barclays Premier League action since sitting out a 2-2 draw with Charlton Athletic in May 2007.
The Spaniard is currently on a run of 154 consecutive top-flight appearances for Liverpool - and Doni is well aware he may have to bide his time.
Nonetheless, he's determined to grab any chances that come his way with both gloves.
"I'm 31-years-old, so I consider myself quite an experienced goalkeeper," said Doni.
"I've played for a few teams in Brazil, in Europe and for the national team. To find myself in the position where I am not the first-choice goalkeeper at a club - I think I am experienced enough to deal with that.
"Everyone knows that Liverpool already has a huge goalkeeper so every time I am called up for the team my aim is to do my best."
While Reina and Doni may be in competition for a place between the sticks, the pair have already struck up a close friendship off it.
"Pepe has been helping me a lot," revealed the Reds' No.32. "He has been giving me some advice because he speaks Spanish so we can talk by speaking Spanish and Portuguese. He has been telling me certain ways of doing some work which is quite different from Italy.
"Little by little I will get used to everything - the way we work and the language. Some of the players are more difficult to understand than others, but I'll get there."