'We're friends as well as teammates'
Emre Can has revealed he views his fellow Liverpool players as 'friends as well as teammates' and believes the strong harmony in the dressing room has proved vital to a good start to the season.
The German was part of a Reds line-up that impressed as they held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw away from home on Monday, a result that made it seven points from a possible nine in the Barclays Premier League this term.
Although Brendan Rodgers' team struck the woodwork twice through Philippe Coutinho, they had to show plenty of togetherness to keep the hosts out, particularly in the face of a second-half onslaught.
Can believes that sort of grit - which has been in evidence regularly over the course of the first three games - typifies the spirit in the camp at the moment.
"[Team spirit is] very important both away from the pitch and on it because you can see when the players in a team understand each other," the 21-year-old told Liverpoolfc.com.
"You can see that in the performances in the first three games and we go out together at times so you can say we’re friends as well as teammates.
"I think that’s important [to battle] regardless of how good you are or how well you’re playing.
"You need to fight for each other in football and you can see that’s working with us not conceding to date.
"Everybody’s fighting hard and long may it continue."
Liverpool's unbeaten start to the 2015-16 campaign has propelled them to third in the Premier League at this early stage.
And Can is certain that a run of 270 minutes of football without conceding a goal is the reason for that encouraging opening to the fixture schedule.
"I think it’s down to good defensive work," the Germany U21 international explained.
"We’ve been very organised in the recent games and we haven’t conceded a single goal. That’s the top and bottom of it. And that’s why we’re up at the top.
"I think we’re just more organised compared with last season. In the first three games teams have found it very, very difficult to create chances against us and we're very solid in defence.
"Everybody has to do their job and be there to support each other and step in to help when needed. And we’re doing that really well this season."