Skrtel: "One of the Worst Seasons in My Career"

Jamie Carragher's inclusion in the starting eleven after the turn of the new year left little room for Martin Skrtel, as the Slovakian had struggled for form and had been at the heart of a number of notable individual errors earlier in the season. As Carragher excelled, Skrtel disappeared, ultimately making only a handful of appearances after February and finding himself the subject of increased talk of a summer exit. And, according to the player, it's something he'd be open to hearing but not necessarily looking for.

Speaking to Slovakian media, Skrtel noted that no concrete offers had arrived, but were they to come in he'd have some serious thinking to do after what was easily his most difficult season in a Liverpool shirt:

"I have not had any specific offers but, if some should come and they interest me, I would probably ponder it seriously. The club has the biggest say in this in any case, because they have the right for it with me being contracted. Besides, I am not saying that I want to leave at any cost.

"I feel sorry for what happened in this season. But I have been here for five-and-a-half years and I have built a position here. It was one of the worst seasons in my career and certainly the worst during my time at Liverpool. Ever since I came to England, I've always more or less regularly played."

It'd be hard to argue with Skrtel's evaluation, though what's heartening is the continued commitment to working to re-establish himself as a first-team regular. He could benefit from the competition that'll apparently be arriving, with Kyriakos Papadopoulos looking likely and Tiago Ilori still a possiblity, as he'd be fighting to find a way back into the eleven he once frequented so regularly.

If Brendan Rodgers' assertions earlier this month are accurate, Martin Skrtel won't have to do much listening, as there's a spot for him in the manager's plans moving forward. But after a season in which his struggles were laid so bare, he'll have to recover quickly, especially if Liverpool are able to add the depth and quality in defense that they're intent on.