Emre: Where I need to improve my game
Emre Can has outlined the areas he feels he needs to improve if he is to become a regular fixture in the Liverpool midfield this season.
The 21-year-old has played a part in each of the Reds' four league outings so far, emerging from the bench against both Stoke City and Bournemouth, and starting against Arsenal and West Ham.
Having featured on the right-hand side of a back three for much of his first campaign at Anfield, Can has been restored to a more familiar position in the centre of the park this term.
But, while that role has come more naturally to him over course of his short career, the German acknowledges that there are facets of midfield play that he must continue to work on.
He told Liverpoolfc.com at Melwood recently: "I want to do more in attack and I know I can improve in that area of my game. I want to do much more going forward in terms of scoring goals and providing assists.
"I’m trying to bring that into my game and I’m working on it in training.
"I always try to do my best and put in the running and help out in defence. I’m determined to work hard in defence and in attack."
With Jordan Henderson, Lucas Leiva, Joe Allen, James Milner and Jordan Rossiter also fighting for a starting berth in midfield, Can has his work cut out.
But the former Bayer Leverkusen star has vowed to do his utmost to keep impressing the manager in training, and believes he can begin to evidence his leadership skills as his standing at Anfield grows.
He continued: "I think every player aims to get in the starting XI so I work hard in training and I always try to show what I can do and impress the manager so he picks me.
"At the end of the day I think the competition for places is good for the team.
"I’m ready to take more responsibility as I’m in my second season. My English is improving and I’ve matured as a player.
"Playing in midfield means you have to take more responsibility. That means I want to score more goals and help the team to get results."
Although it is clear that the midfielder is aiming to improve on last season's output, he stopped short of revealing a goal target for 2015-16.
"I haven’t got a particular target of scoring five or 10 goals," Can said. "I take one game at a time.
"Perhaps I do have one target of scoring more goals than last season and last year I only scored one goal.
"Hopefully it will be more this season."