Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel says it is always difficult for foreign players coming into the Premier League.

A shaky start on the field coupled with a language barrier in training meant that Skrtel had a difficult first month at Anfield.

He told liverpoolfc.tv: "I came from Russia and everything was different. The game here was much harder.

"The Premier League is the best competition in the world and it is not easy to settle down. I joined one of the biggest clubs in the world and I needed to learn everything.

"I couldn't speak English so I couldn't understand the lads and that was the first thing I tried to sort out.

"On the pitch I didn't start well either."