Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius says it's not easy to compete with Simon Mignolet for the Reds No. 1 job.
Karius and the Belgium international have gone back-and-forth as Jurgen Klopp's first-choice keeper this season, and the German told Sky Sports it has been difficult.
"It wasn't easy," the Germany international told Sky Sports. "I knew after the first season where I had an injury, then went back in and played a few games, went back out and then Simon did well and the team qualified for the Champions League, I knew there was a possibility that in the beginning [of the next season], he would start again in the league.
"I just worked hard in training and then the games I had, I tried my best because you can only look at yourself and try to perform well. It's not easy for a goalkeeper to come in and out, but that was the situation and you have to take it as it is really.
"It is difficult to say what changed about yourself but I feel good, I've been playing quite well so I want to keep it up and do even better. I know I can improve on pretty much everything, I'm 24 now so there is a lot of space for improvement.
"But the life of a goalkeeper is that you always get criticised when you have a bad day so you just have to get used to it and of course, at a club like this, it was more than I was used to so maybe that was the biggest thing."
Karius is in his second spell in England after having previously spent time at Manchester City, where he trained with Joe Hart as a teenager.
"I played for the U18s and the reserves and was training every day with the first team really, with Joe Hart who was a great guy and helped me a lot back then. He was a great role model and I don't really regret anything," he added.
"But then I made a decision that I wanted to play first-team football regularly, and it was quite difficult for a young player, especially as a goalkeeper, so I thought I'd have to take a little step back to a smaller club.
"As long as I saw the chance to play there and progress as a young player and then hopefully move onto a bigger club in the future. That's what happened so it worked out well."