Your role has changed recently, moving from full-back to central midfield when Liverpool are in possession. When did those conversations start, and what was your reaction?
I was excited. It was a couple of days before the Arsenal home game last April, the 2-2 draw, but we didn’t have much time to work on it. I always felt, without putting a label on it, that I’ve been given freedom – not so much to play as a double six or right in midfield but being able to drop into a back three, or push up high almost like a right-winger, or take possession in the right half-space. I’ve been able to create for eight years, so we didn’t change too much. In my opinion, I’ve always believed that the ability and skill set I’ve got is best suited to playing in the middle of the pitch. You get the best out of my specific skill set by playing in the middle, and I saw it as an opportunity to show the world that. That’s what excited me.
When you’re approaching a game now, do you try to focus on the defensive side of your role, or are you thinking about how you can impact the game from the middle? Both, to be honest. My main focus always has, and always will be, what I need to do to help the team win the game. Whether that’s defensively or offensively, I’m prepared to do that. People will talk about the games where I’ve been able to dictate the play, but there have been matches where I’ve had to be more defensively sound and not been able to get on the ball. For me, it doesn’t matter.