The Slovakia centre-back has put in numerous commanding performances and has also weighed in with four goals this season, more than doubling his tally from the previous four years.

But the 27-year-old believes there is still plenty more to come from him as he looks to build on his recent run of good form.

"For the last few months I have been pleased with my performances," he said.

"There is no reason for it. I have just tried to do my best and not put too much pressure on myself.

"It helps that the team is doing well too. When the team is playing at a high level, it gives everybody confidence to reach their levels.

"Experience has a lot to do with it. As you get older you learn how to deal with success and failure and I feel a lot more confident in my ability to make the right decisions.

"In the last 18 months a lot has changed and I think everybody agrees that it has changed for the better.

"Nobody is complete. You see players older than me trying to get better and that inspires you.

"You see people like Bellars (Craig Bellamy); ones who give everything every day.

"He has been very successful for a long time but he still wants to be the best.

"You have to have that attitude. I am 27 now and I think I can still improve."

Skrtel admits his improved goalscoring this season is just an added boost.

"I have got a few more and I'm pleased about that because before I came to Liverpool I used to score a few," he added.

"It is not my focus, though. It is my job to help the team defend.

"I would prefer it if the goals were scored by someone else and I helped the team keep a clean sheet."

Goalscoring has been a problem for the team all season and that was particularly highlighted in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to Arsenal when Liverpool dominated but missed a penalty, hit the post twice and forced a couple of good saves out of goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

It speaks volumes that Robin van Persie, who scored the only two chances he had all afternoon, has just five fewer Barclays Premier League goals (25) than the entire Liverpool team.

Dirk Kuyt, who missed his second penalty of the season, felt they did everything right but were just unlucky.

"I enjoyed linking up with Luis Suarez and we created enough chances but we need to kill those chances," he told liverpoolfc.tv.

"With no midweek match we now have some time to recover after a lot of games over the last few weeks.

"We will be fresh for the Sunderland game."