Defender Daniel Agger is enjoying life at Liverpool again after admitting injuries and being played out of position left him low on morale.
The Denmark international was shunted out of his normal central position at the start of the season with Fabio Aurelio not fully fit and Paul Konchesky not signed until transfer deadline day. He featured at left-back in all or some of Liverpool's first six Barclays Premier League matches before a complicated calf problem sidelined him for three months.
"My problem the last six months with me not being first choice has been the injuries," he said. "The first month or two when I was injury-free I played left-back and I definitely don't think that is my first priority to play out there."
He added: "After that I got injured and was playing catch-up all the time and that was difficult. Now I am finally fit I am playing games and that is good for me.
"I have learned about my body now and I have learned it is struggling from time to time so I have to enjoy the time I have on the pitch and try to do everything I can for the team.
"But it is a lot easier to keep fit when I am playing regularly rather than coming in and out of the side."
With central defensive partner Martin Skrtel having the odd wobble in recent weeks, Agger's calming influence and ability to play the ball out from the back has undoubtedly helped usher in a return to a pass-and-move style of play introduced by Kenny Dalglish since he took over from Roy Hodgson a month ago.
Liverpool have kept clean sheets in their last three matches and Agger believes that is due to a change of attitude within the squad.
"The easiest answer is the confidence and mentality of working for each other," he said. "Kenny came in at a difficult time. It is always difficult to come in when a team is struggling, but I think we have started to play better.
"Definitely he lifted the team, definitely he lifted the team spirit, and we have to give the credit to him and Steve Clarke (brought in as coach to help Dalglish). We've got these wins in a row so confidence will rise and hopefully that will carry on in the next couple of games."
Source: PA
