Slovakia's Martin Skrtel warns Liverpool team-mates ahead of England clash

Martin Skrtel says his Liverpool team-mates will not have an easy ride when England take on Slovakia on Monday.

The defender is adamant friendship will have to be put to one side for 90 minutes and joked that he will be more than wiling to scythe down his club mates if the situation requires.

The 31-year-old shares an Anfield dressing room with Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana, Jordan Henderson, Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner, with Raheem Sterling another former colleague, but Skrtel will not be dishing out any preferential treatment during the St Etienne group game.

As a forward, Sturridge may be matched up directly with Skrtel, and the defender said: "We can be friends before and after the game. On the pitch, there are no friends.

"If you asked Daniel, he'd answer the same. We try and do the best for the team. If that means having to kick him, then yes. Of course!

"We know each other well, but it's very difficult to predict a situation in a game. Every single game is different. We have to be ready for them, for him, and to try and eliminate their strengths and work on our own to be a success."

Skrtel might tend towards admiration for Roy Hodgson's squad, no surprise given he has spent eight seasons on Merseyside, but he also appeared to echo Gareth Bale's recent inflammatory comments.

Bale said prior to Wales' 2-1 defeat that English players could not match the pride or passion of his side, a theme Skrtel appeared to pick up.

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"The smaller countries have probably got more team spirit, especially when they come up against the big countries," he added.

"The pressure will be on the English, though I think they have enough experience to be able to handle it.

"It's all going to come down to what happens on the pitch, and I think we can reproduce our performance against Russia (a 2-1 win). We showed heart, character and motivation."

Slovakia coach Jan Kozak acknowledged that his team will have huge motivation for their clash with England.

"I think we need to get at least a draw to advance to the knockout stages, so there really is a lot at stake," he said.

"It's been a long and difficult journey to reach the European Championship and, of course, we want to stay here."   

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