IT was hardly the most auspicious of beginnings. The abiding image of Martin Skrtel’s first start for Liverpool FC saw the centre-back flat on his back in the penalty area having deflected an unfortunate own goal to hand non-League Havant and Waterlooville a shock FA Cup lead at Anfield.

Liverpool FC eventually fought back to triumph. And in much the same way, Skrtel has overcome those unsteady first steps to become an integral part of the Anfield outfit’s defensive backbone.

But it hasn’t happened overnight.

Indeed, only since return of Kenny Dalglish as manager – and, perhaps just as pertinently, the arrival of Steve Clarke as assistant – has Skrtel finally consistently produced the form that encouraged Rafael Benitez to shell out £6.5million to bring the Slovakian from Zenit St Petersburg four years ago today.

The 27-year-old has forged an impressive centre-back partnership with Daniel Agger this season that has kept veteran Jamie Carragher on the bench and ensured only leaders Manchester City have a meaner defence in the Premier League.

Yet, as Skrtel recalls: “It was very difficult at first. I came from Russia, everything was different. It was a big club. One of the biggest in the world.

“It was a little bit strange for me, you know, because when I came here to be in the dressing room with players like Stevie, Fernando and Carra – I wasn’t used to that.

“Obviously the first month was hard for me. I couldn’t speak English, I couldn’t understand the lads and the first thing I did was to try and sort out the language problems. On the pitch I didn’t start well either – against Havant.”

Skrtel admits that disappointing full debut left him determined to prove his true worth.

“I went back to my hotel and I knew it was not my best game or my best performance,” he says. “But I knew I could play better and I knew I had to go away and work hard in training.

“I knew the people were talking about me. That I wasn’t good enough for Liverpool and that the club had paid a lot of money for me.

“For me it was important that Rafa said to me ‘don’t worry about this game. Look ahead to the next game, I will give you a chance and you have to show you are a better player’.

“After this I just wanted to try and show that I was good enough to play for Liverpool and I have worked at that.”