Baros sets sights on first-team spot

Milan Baros reckons he has done the difficult bit and mastered the Scouse accent – now the Czech striker wants more opportunities to stake his claim for a permanent first-team spot at Liverpool.

The 21-year-old did not do a bad job on Wednesday night when he stood in for Emile Heskey against Tottenham, even though the match finished in a frustrating goalless draw at Anfield.

Now Baros hopes he has shown enough to hang onto his place for tomorrow’s Mersey derby at Everton.

Despite only being an occasional starter last term, the Czech international finished as second highest scorer behind Michael Owen.

He said: “Scoring 12 goals was okay, but this season I want to score more goals and play more than last season. Hopefully I can do this.”

It is almost two years since Baros arrived at Anfield from top Czech side Banik Ostrava and, after a difficult start, he revealed: “I am enjoying myself more now.

“When I first came to Liverpool I didn’t speak English, but I have been working on that and now I can speak with the other players.

“That makes a big difference and I feel a lot more comfortable and confident now that the language is no longer a barrier.”

But he added: “When I first started learning English, I would get confused with the Scouse accent because to me it sounded completely different.

“When I spoke with the lads in the dressing room, I found it easier to understand the German guys because they didn’t speak with this accent like people in Liverpool.

“If the Scousers speak slowly then I am able to understand them, but I am getting used to it more and more now.”

The understanding is coming on the pitch too, and Baros made it clear he will not be happy with too much longer on the bench.

“I would like to score more goals than last season and start more games,” he said. “For me, and every other player, it is difficult when you are not playing. Everyone wants to play.

“When you are on the bench, you do not feel the atmosphere as much as when you are on the pitch.

“I feel very good. I had no injuries during the summer, so I have done a lot of training. I think I have done well and I am ready to play in the first team.”