Liverpool midfielder Maxi Rodriguez has said that he is prepared to compete for a place in the Reds starting lineup.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has bolstered his midfield this summer with the signings of Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing.

Despite the Argentinian’s omission from the squad that scored a 1-1 draw with Sunderland in their opening Premier League match, the 30-year-old is happy to fight for his place.

"Healthy competition is always good," Maxi told the club’s official website.

"Competition for places is always a positive thing for the club and I think it's great that the signings who have arrived are of such high quality with a great level of skills and technique.

"It means the manager has to decide what he thinks is his best 11 but that is something he will decide and we will all be hoping we are in it.”

The Merseyside club will face Arsenal in a midday clash at the Emirates on Saturday, August 20.