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Ragnar Klavan is relishing the battle for a starting spot at Liverpool.

The experienced Estonia captain joined the Reds for £4.2million from FC Augsburg last week.

Klavan, who penned a three-year contract, was brought in to bolster the club’s centre-back options following the summer exits of Kolo Toure and Martin Skrtel, coupled with the recent injury setbacks to Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez, and Tiago Ilori’s call-up for the Olympics.

The 30-year-old defender is highly rated by Jurgen Klopp and certainly hasn’t been brought in just to make up the numbers.

A debut awaits against Chelsea in Pasadena on Wednesday night and Klavan is ready to show his qualities as he competes with the likes of Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip.

“I’m settling in nicely,” Klavan told the ECHO after a gruelling session at the club’s Stanford University training base.

“The squad and the whole club are so friendly. It’s a family club and I’m happy to be here.

“Everything has happened pretty fast. It was a couple of weeks ago when I first spoke with Klopp.

“We had a good talk and then things started moving. It was an easy decision for me.

“This is a big club so wherever you go at this level you are going to face a fight to secure a place in the team. But I’m ready for that.

“In fact that competition helps everyone because you have to give your best in training every day.”

Klavan knows three of Liverpool’s other summer signings well. He came up against Loris Karius and Matip in Bundesliga action, while veteran keeper Alex Manninger was his team-mate at Augsburg.

“Both Loris and Joel were one of their best in their positions in the Germany last season,” he added.

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“I am really happy to see them here because they have a lot of quality and they’re good guys.

“As for Alex, everybody knows he’s 39 and the kind of role he will have at the club.

“He’s a true professional. Last season when he was second choice at Augsburg he was still the most professional player in the squad.

“He would always be the first one in for training and the last one to leave. That was over the entire season.

“It’s nice to have him on the training field and also in the locker room. He’s a great example to the young lads.”

Klavan has waited his entire career for the chance to play in the Premier League and is fully prepared for some bruising encounters.

“I embrace that physical side,” he said.

“It’s a great challenge for me. For 22 years it’s been my dream to play in England.

“I know it’s going to be tough but I’ve taken it on because I really want this challenge.”

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