Glen Johnson happy to put Liverpool team first

(GETTY IMAGES)

Liverpool defender Glen Johnson welcomes the competition he is coming under from younger members of the squad despite already being forced out of his regular position.

The 20-year-old Martin Kelly has started every match on the right of defence since Kenny Dalglish took charge just over a month ago, which has meant Johnson has had to fit in on the left.

However, also included in the squad which travelled to face Sparta Prague in tonight's Europa League last-32 tie were youth team full-backs John Flanagan (18) and Jack Robinson (17).

Johnson does not feel threatened by the pretenders to his crown, insisting it shows the club has a healthy system growing beneath the first team.

"It shows everyone where the club is going and it is always nice to have young lads competing for places, being involved and being around the team," said the 26-year-old.

"It is good for them and their careers and competition for places is healthy for any team.

"I'm playing out of position but I'm happy to do a job for the team.

"Sometimes through your career you have to do things which suit the team but not yourself but I'm more than happy to do it for the team.

"We haven't done too much work on it (playing on the left), when we've done the team shape I line up there and that is pretty much it.

"Obviously the more games you play the more comfortable you get and I don't feel too out of position to be honest."

Dalglish praised Johnson for fitting in with the team ethic.

"The team is more important than any one individual," he said.

"And without trying to undermine the importance of the individual it is great credit he is prepared to play there because he is England's right-back but he has done an excellent job for us on the left.

"The team's needs come first and you can tell by his comments he fully appreciates that.

"We appreciate it is maybe not his first choice but it is better than being substitute."

Johnson is likely to line up on the left tonight against Sparta Prague as Dalglish features in his first European match as Liverpool boss.

The 59-year-old Scot, a three-time European Cup winner as a player, was denied the change to manage the Reds in Europe when English clubs were banned after the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985.

His only excursions in continental competition have been with Blackburn and Newcastle and a return of just three wins and three draws in 12 matches is disappointing.

However, Dalglish played down the significance of his first European match, 9,393 days after his first spell in the Anfield dugout began.

"It is a great honour for me to be involved with Liverpool irrespective of the competition but to be involved in Europe gives that extra little plus," he added.

"Whether we'd have done well in Europe is hypothetical. People would discuss it but it was irrelevant."