Sotirios Kyrgiakos believes he has adapted well to life at Liverpool and is relishing the physical nature of the English game.
The Greek defender has been one of the Reds' most consistent performers since his summer arrival from AEK Athens and has played a key role during the club's recent rise back into the top four.
Although the 30-year-old picked up his first red card in the fiery Merseyside derby clash with Everton last Saturday, he cannot wait to get back in the side and feels his spell at Rangers between 2004 and 2006 prepared him for the rough and tumble of Premier League football.
He told LFC magazine: "I didn't have too many problems adapting to football here because I had played in Scotland with Rangers.
"In Germany and Greece I did not have to be as physical because football isn't so aggressive.
"Anyway it's not all about aggression, that's not the most important thing. You have to want to go and win the ball. There is no point waiting for it to come to you, you have to go and get it."
Prior to the Liverpool derby, Kyrgiakos lost a tooth in the 2-0 victory over Bolton, but insists that will not stop him battling hard in the future.
"There are a lot of elbows flying in football here and the referee says no foul," he added. "That is part of football. It's tough and I like this side of the game."
The Greek defender has been one of the Reds' most consistent performers since his summer arrival from AEK Athens and has played a key role during the club's recent rise back into the top four.
Although the 30-year-old picked up his first red card in the fiery Merseyside derby clash with Everton last Saturday, he cannot wait to get back in the side and feels his spell at Rangers between 2004 and 2006 prepared him for the rough and tumble of Premier League football.
He told LFC magazine: "I didn't have too many problems adapting to football here because I had played in Scotland with Rangers.
"In Germany and Greece I did not have to be as physical because football isn't so aggressive.
"Anyway it's not all about aggression, that's not the most important thing. You have to want to go and win the ball. There is no point waiting for it to come to you, you have to go and get it."
Prior to the Liverpool derby, Kyrgiakos lost a tooth in the 2-0 victory over Bolton, but insists that will not stop him battling hard in the future.
"There are a lot of elbows flying in football here and the referee says no foul," he added. "That is part of football. It's tough and I like this side of the game."
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