• Premier League

Aspas targets starts at Liverpool

ESPN staff
July 31, 2013
Iago Aspas has impressed so far during pre-season © Getty Images
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New Liverpool arrival Iago Aspas is targeting a place in the starting side for the Reds' opening game of the Premier League season against Stoke.

Aspas has impressed manager Brendan Rodgers, with three goals in Liverpool's four pre-season matches.

The Spaniard, who joined from La Liga side Celta Vigo, admits it has been difficult to adjust to the fitness demands of English football but is comfortable within the Liverpool setup.

"At the beginning it has been a little tougher than the sessions in Spain, but we know there is a little more running involved in this league," Aspas told liverpoolfc.com. "However, we do a lot of work with the ball and I think in that respect the sessions are very similar to back in Spain.

"I'm working hard every day to try and earn my place on the team sheet for the first game. From that moment on it's all about doing as well as I can and gaining confidence to continue to keep my place in the side."

Aspas has revealed fellow Spaniards Luis Alberto and Jose Enrique have helped him settle in at Anfield, as has Rodgers.

"Luis has been a real source of support for me," he added. "Because we're the two new boys, we hang out and go everywhere together. Of course it helps a lot that the manager can speak Spanish - he gets by pretty well.

"Jose Enrique is the person who's helping out the most at the moment. He's Spanish like us, so he's helping us out with everything - finding a house, a car, translating training ground explanations... whatever it may be, he's there to help us."

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