I've always played with a high intensity anyway. That's how I've always been.

I don't like to look too far back into the past.

As players, you've got to keep improving, keep learning, keep playing well to get your place in the team.

It was Osgood-Schlatters. It wasn't good. It's a growing pains thing, and I had to have a lot of treatment on it. I just shot up immediately and didn't have any kind of physique to deal with it physically. I was tall, all arms and legs, and a bit gangly.

When you come to a club like Liverpool, you need to perform straight away and consistently.

Some people might say I'm old at 28, but I look at someone like James Milner. He's 32 and playing like he is 25 or something.

As a player, you want to win every game. That's what footballers do: they want to play, and they want to win.

I'm not particularly into people giving me credit. It's not something I think about. It's not important to me. The only thing that's important is if I'm doing my job properly on the pitch for the team and for the manager.

I don't like talking about myself. I find it a lot easier talking about other people.

I don't like reading good things about myself. With the criticism and the negative things, I always think that makes me better.

It is nice to be playing, being on the pitch, and contributing to the team.

Everything on the pitch is to help the team.

Overall strength work - if you can do it regularly - makes a massive difference on the pitch, especially when you are fatigued. If you are stronger, it helps you deal with that.

United are capable of setting up a low block and making it difficult, but they're also capable of coming out and pressing high.

I get in the gym and put the work in with the fitness coaches so I can be the best shape I can be in.

Whether you win or lose, you need to stay on a level platform.

My favourite meal is probably chicken with penne pasta and pesto.

Coventry was a big part of my career, and I had a great time there.

You will always be judged as a Liverpool player but, as a captain, you will be judged on what you win, basically. If you're doing well, and the team is winning everything, you become a very good captain.

Age is not really the biggest factor, whichever end of the scale you are at. It's how you perform, how you respond to the challenge of having good players around you competing for your place.

Obviously, it was an amazing feeling to play for Liverpool for the first time. It was a little bit funny to be playing against Sunderland, but it is still an amazing feeling every time I put on the Liverpool shirt.

I don't think I'll ever be another Steven Gerrard, to be honest!

I've always been athletic - did the 100 metres and 1500 m at school, cross-country races - and did well in them.

Now and again, you may be picking a pass or two in behind, making something happen, but when we're attacking - especially at Liverpool - I'm focusing on protection, being disciplined, being careful, worrying about counter-attacks, things like that.