Skrtel: Craig has inspired me
Martin Skrtel has revealed why watching Craig Bellamy on a daily basis in training has helped inspire him to produce some of his best form in a Liverpool jersey.
The centre-back has been a commanding presence at the heart of the Reds defence throughout 2011-12, leading many to suggest he is currently playing the finest football of his four-year Anfield career.
"That is for other people to say, but I am very happy," Skrtel told Liverpool's official matchday programme for Saturday's game with Arsenal. "For the last few months I have been pleased with my performances.
"There is no reason for it. I have just tried to do my best and not put too much pressure on myself.
"It helps that the team is doing well too. When the team is playing at a high level, it gives everybody confidence to reach their levels.
"In the last 18 months a lot has changed and I think everybody agrees that it has changed for the better."
Skrtel admits watching the likes of 32-year-old Bellamy striving to improve each and every day in training has had a positive influence on him.
Asked about the areas of his game he's been working on at Melwood, the Slovakia international replied: "Everything. Nobody is complete. You see players older than me trying to get better and that inspires you.
"You see people like Bellars (Craig Bellamy); ones who give everything every day. He has been very successful for a long time but he still wants to be the best.
"You have to have that attitude. I am 27 now and I think I can still improve.
"Experience has a lot to do with it. As you get older you learn how to deal with success and failure and I feel a lot more confident in my ability to make the right decisions."
One area Skrtel has clearly improved upon this term is goalscoring.
The No.37's strike in the Carling Cup final was his fourth of the campaign so far - double the amount of times he managed to find the back of the net in the whole of last season.
Nonetheless, while pleased to be offering more in attack for Kenny Dalglish's side, Skrtel insists he takes more satisfaction from a job well done in defence.
"I have got a few more (goals) and I'm pleased about that because before I came to Liverpool I used to score a few," he said.
"It is not my focus, though. It is my job to help the team defend. I would prefer it if the goals were scored by someone else and I helped the team keep a clean sheet."
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