Dane had been on the bench for the past two months before his recall last weekend.
Liverpool vice-captain Daniel Agger has revealed that it has been hard sitting on the substitutes’ bench of late, however, the centre back has vowed to now remain in the first team going forward at Anfield, according to reports in the Daily Mirror.
The in-demand Denmark international finally made his return to the Merseyside giants’ starting lineup last Saturday as the Reds thrashed struggling Fulham 4-0 at Anfield in the Premier League, the first time that Agger had featured under head coach Brendan Rodgers for the past seven weeks.
Agger had initially sustained a freak abdominal injury during training when trying to avoid a falling dumb-bell, however, the defender was then unable to regain his place at the heart of the Reds back four thereafter with the team performing so well in the league.
But now that the 28-year-old has won back his spot in the side, the Dane says he is determined to remain in Rodgers’s thoughts going forward as Liverpool go in search of a top-four finish in the Premier League this season, and with it a long-awaited return to the Uefa Champions League.
“It’s been difficult. I want to play every time, in every single game, so when you’re not playing it’s difficult,” said Agger.
“But, when that is said, I just have to work even harder every single day in training, not complaining and just doing everything that little bit extra.
“I feel I belong there. I feel I’m more than capable of being in the team, but it’s the manager’s decision.
“Sometimes, that’s difficult to change in training. You need to grab the chance when it’s there and that’s what football is about, taking your chances.
“The competition for places has always been intense here, and it should always be. That’s a good thing because we want to win something.
“To be honest, that was nothing to do with me,” says Agger of the recent rumours linking him with a move away from Merseyside in January.
I know I’m here and as long as I’m doing everything to be in that team and I feel I’m good enough and the manager can use me, then I’ll be here.
“But, when that is said, I just have to work even harder every single day in training, not complaining and just doing everything that little bit extra.
“I’ve trained hard these last few weeks and I’ve trained a lot, so physically I’m probably better now than I was before.
“It’s been a bit longer than I hoped for, but when you get the chance, you need to do everything you can to keep your place.
“It’s where you want to be because that’s where all the best players and all the best teams are. We definitely want to be there.
“You can see that desire on the pitch. We are working for each other and if you want to finish in the top four in the Premier League, that’s important. That’s more important than maybe the quality.
“There are a lot of teams up there and it would definitely be a great achievement to finish in the top four.”
Agger will have been at Anfield for eight year come January, with the central defender having scored 12 goals in his 216 matches in all competitions for the club in that time.
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