Mamadou Sakho today explained why he is a soldier on the pitch for Liverpool – and a Scouser off it – after penning a new contract with the club.

The centre-back today signed his name on a new long-term Reds deal at Melwood to commit his future to Anfield.

As the ink was still drying on his contract, Sakho sat down with Liverpoolfc.com to explain why he is now determined to repay the support of the fans by being a ‘warrior’ for them as he aims to help bring trophies to Merseyside.

Read on for a full transcript of the interview. Alternatively, LFCTV GO subscribers can watch it in full by clicking play on the embedded video above now. Need a subscription? Sign up now.

Mamadou, firstly congratulations on signing a new long-term deal with Liverpool Football Club. How does it feel to have committed your future to the club?

Thank you. I am very happy to sign a long-term contract with Liverpool because, as I’ve always said, I am very happy here and my family are happy in Liverpool. I will keep working because I am a Liverpool soldier and when Liverpool need me, I try to give my best. I am happy to stay as a Scouser!

You describe yourself as a ‘Liverpool soldier’. What do you mean by that? Do you lead by example for the other players, the younger players?

Just that I work all the time 100 per cent, I try to stay professional and I give my best for this city and this club. It is important for me because every day when I wake up, I am very happy to come into the training ground with all the players. That’s why I say I am a Scouser!

So, you consider yourself a Scouser?

[Laughs, in his best Scouse impression] ‘Okay, mate. What’s happening, lad?’

You’ve been here for two years now – it’s clear this club means a lot to you…

Yes. I know we have many players – 25 players – and the coach has to make a choice. That’s why I say I try to be ready when the team need me. I try to give my best. The most important thing is everyone must have the same mentality because we have to work for this country – Liverpool country!

You mention Liverpool the city – the country as you’ve just described it there. The fans were singing your name against Bordeaux on Thursday night. What does their support mean to you?

It’s very nice. It’s very important for me to know the fans like me and I try to show my best for them. Sometimes you might lose a pass or a header, but when you give 100 per cent I think the people can see that. That is important.

You came back into the team against Bordeaux and afterwards the manager praised your performance. How determined are you now to keep that place in the team?

I stay the same. I never change, before and after – I stay as Mama! I keep working, try to help all the players and we have to play together. If one player plays good, it is because the team has played well. Everyone needs everyone in the squad.

You also captained Liverpool against Bordeaux. What did that honour mean to you?

I felt good. I was happy because to be the captain of Liverpool is a big responsibility. I tried to speak to the kids, but really I stayed natural – with or without the captaincy, I stay the same person.

It is a long-term contract you’ve signed. What are you hoping to achieve here at Liverpool?

I hope to win some trophies with this club because I think we deserve it and we have a very good team with very good players. For the fans and the Liverpool history, we must have this way of thinking all the time. We have to be warriors for this club.

It’s been a mixed start to this season. Are you confident over the coming weeks we will see the real Liverpool?

Yes, I am. I am very confident. Many new players came in and they have to adapt to Liverpool and the football, but when we look at all the players, I think we have lots of quality. Together, hand in hand, we can have a good season.

Finally then, for the fans reading this, what’s your message to them?

The message is just for them to stay the same with us. They are real fans and this year they won’t be disappointed by our fight. We will give 110 per cent to fight. In football, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose but we will try to fight for this shirt and for them.