Gini Wijnaldum has come a long way. From the streets of Rotterdam to playing a crucial role in Liverpool's Premier League title challenge under Jurgen Klopp.

It's been some journey for the Netherlands midfielder who has firmly established himself as a Kop favourite since his arrival from Newcastle United in 2016.

A title winner with PSV Eindhoven in his homeland, he's desperate to replicate that success at Anfield. He's on a mission to help write a new glorious chapter in Liverpool's rich history.

Gini, this is your third season at Liverpool. How do you reflect on your time at Anfield so far?

(Image: GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP/Getty Images)

I've certainly grown as a player during my time here. The expectations are so high at such a big club and that drives you on to become better.

Before I signed for Liverpool I was playing for Newcastle mainly as a No 10. Basically, I was always attacking, I didn't really have to do much defensive work. I didn't really play as the No 6 or the No 8. I feel as if learning to play different roles has helped me a lot. It has made me a more all-round midfielder.

With the calibre of players here and the technical staff, this is a great environment to learn. Walking out at Anfield is an unbelievable experience and I feel very fortunate. I try to enjoy every minute of it. We've come a long way as a club and I've been happy to contribute to that.

How important do you think that versatility is in modern football?

It makes it easier for you to play more often and it makes it easier for the manager if he has players who can be used in different positions. You can help the team more. I think I've shown I have the defensive discipline to play deep as the No 6 and start the build ups with my passing. I can also play higher up the pitch and make a difference in the opposition area. Being able to do both has helped me to play so many games.

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Your journey to Anfield started at Sparta Rotterdam. How did you get spotted by your home town club?

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I was six years old when I got taken along to a talent day in Rotterdam. My school said I was good and put my name forward. I was lucky that they picked me. I came up through the youth at Sparta Rotterdam for seven years. I liked football but I loved gymnastics at that time. I used to do backflips but my grandma said it was too dangerous! She was scared I might hurt myself and made me stop.

A lot of little kids know a lot of players and for them it's football, football, football. But I didn't go to stadiums to see games or stay in to watch them. It was only when I moved to Feyenoord at the age of 14 that I thought maybe I could be a professional.

You lived with your grandma Francina in Rotterdam from the age of five. She played a big part in your development....

She was always by my side supporting me. We didn't have a car and there were times when we had to be at training at 7am. It was too early for the subway so she would walk with me. It was a 45-minute walk to training from my house but she would walk with me, even in the winter. She never let me go alone.

She didn’t take me to football to make it my job in the future but more to keep me off the streets and not to do silly things - to make sure I made something of my life. She always said that firstly you have to go to school and after school you can play soccer. The most important thing she ever told me was to do my best so when I look back later in my career I do not have regrets. She also said to be yourself and never change.

You were just 16 when Erwin Koeman gave you your debut for Feyenoord against Groningen in April 2007. You became the youngest player in the club's history.....

The game was on the Sunday and Erwin told me on the Wednesday that I would be playing. That was a really special moment. I realised that not every trainer has the balls to let a 16-year-old play in the first team and things were not going so well for the team at that time so they didn’t want to take the risk with young players. He asked me not to tell anyone at school. It was difficult to concentrate in class.

Your progress was such that PSV Eindhoven bought you for 5million Euros in 2011. Within four years you had become captain, inspired them to the Eredivisie title and been crowned Dutch Footballer of the Year. Newcastle United swooped for £14.5million. Was a move to the Premier League always the dream?

Yes, it was. I admired a number of other competitions when I was playing in Holland. The Bundesliga is a wonderful competition and La Liga too. But I think the Premier League is the most attractive competition in the world. I've always thought that. It's so competitive. There are so many teams who can beat each other, so many teams who can compete for the title. It's so difficult to win games. When I was in Holland, a lot of times when you played against the lower teams you won comfortably. In the Premier League the competition is much bigger. You have to fight for every point.

How do you look back on your year at Newcastle. You top scored with 11 goals but the 2015/16 season ended with relegation to the Championship?

They are a club which is in my heart. They gave me the opportunity to play in the Premier League. The fee was a lot of money at the time. A lot of clubs didn't want to take the risk that they took. I only worked with Rafa Benitez for a short time but he’s a great manager and he showed it from the first moment he came. He’s a good person, always trying to help players out. It was a big disappointment that we got relegated but I will always appreciate what Newcastle did for me.

When Jurgen Klopp signed you for £25million in the summer of 2016 you were a man in demand. You also held talks with Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino......

I had a really good conversation with Pochettino but we didn’t come to an agreement. Not just me, Newcastle also didn’t come to an agreement with Tottenham. When I spoke with Jurgen, he made me feel really good. He gave me a lot of confidence because he said he liked my way of playing football.

Three days after our meeting, they had reached a deal and that gave me a good feeling as well. I didn't think twice. This is one of the biggest clubs in the world. I wanted to make the transfer and I'm happy that I did. The fans welcomed me from the start here. I think they appreciate that I give 100% every game and do my best always for Liverpool. If they can see that you are willing to do everything to win for the team, they will love you.

How has working with Jurgen Klopp improved you as a player?

He is always busy making the team better and also trying to make you better as an individual. He has great attention to detail. He shows you situations in a game where he feels you could have done better. During training he makes it very clear what he wants to see. He asks a lot from players. He asks for a lot of concentration, he asks for a lot of hard work.

It's not always easy, you know how players how. Sometimes you aren't 100% concentrated and you might think 'I can do things a bit easier today'. But with him you always have to be 100% concentrated and give everything you have.

How would you assess his man-management style?

I can't speak for every player but I have a good relationship with him. He has helped me a lot. He can be hard because he's always on your case and saying what he thinks. But he's honest and I like that. It's always in the right way, always for the right reason. It's not to make you feel bad or anything like that.

He's really hard but on the other side he keeps your confidence high. He says that mistakes are just part of football. I remember against Leicester City I made a mistake and it led to a goal. He wasn't angry about the mistake, he was more angry about my reaction afterwards. He thought I was too busy thinking it, rather than just putting it behind me.

Is he like any other manager you have worked with?

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He's actually quite similar to Louis van Gaal. He also asks a lot from players. It's not always easy for a player when a manager is that dominant and sees everything. But they only have one reason for it - to make you better. When you keep that in mind, you can deal with it. If you think 'he always wants to say something about me' then it can be hard. I always have the mindset that both those managers wanted to help me.

Liverpool spent more than £90million on two midfielders in Naby Keita and Fabinho last summer. Has that forced you to raise your game again this term?

You have to embrace it and realise that's how it has to be. If you look at our rivals, it's no different. Manchester City have a massive squad with world class players sitting on the bench every week.

If you want to play for a big club, you have to accept having that kind of competition. If a midfielder playing elsewhere has a great season, there's a good chance that Liverpool will try to sign him. That's just the way it is. There is no point worrying about who might come in and take your place, you just have to focus on your own job and doing the best you can every day.

Every top club wants to keep progressing. It suits a club like Liverpool to have a big squad because it's one of the biggest in Europe. If you look at the amount of games we're playing, you can't just have a squad of 18 players. You won't make it to the finish fit and fresh.

Keita and Fabinho are both quality players who are helping take the team forward and I'm happy they're here. Having that competition keeps you concentrated. You can't ever slacken off.

Liverpool made the two biggest signings in the club's history over the course of 2018. Having paid £75million for Virgil van Dijk they then shelled out £65million for Alisson Becker. Defensively, the team has been transformed. How would you assess their impact?

Virgil has fitted in so well. He's a player I knew before from our time together in the Netherlands squad. When he signed there was a lot of talk about the transfer fee but he didn't decide that, Southampton and Liverpool decided that. Every player has a price tag. Of course it brought a lot of pressure for him but he has handled it so well.

Nobody speaks about the fee anymore. Everybody says that he was a massive transfer for us because he has helped us so much.

People always question transfers when a club spends a lot of money but Virgil has backed it up with performances. I knew he would do really well - he's so strong in the air and comfortable in possession. He's always talking and is a leader back there.

Alisson also settled in very quickly. He's cool, he's full of confidence. It's good because he has already helped us a lot. He's excellent with the ball at his feet and that helps us football wise to create an extra free man at times. He has also made some very important saves. You want to play with top players and there are a lot of those here.

At the age of 28, you're reaching your peak. What else do you want to achieve in your career?

(Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)

I hope to stay here for a long time and help to make the history of this club even bigger. We have been doing good things. We reached the Champions League final last season. It was just unfortunate how things went against Real Madrid but that run was still amazing to be part of.

Now we want more. Everyone talks about winning something. We have to make sure that we make the next step. I hope we can do it. We have the confidence that we can do it.

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When you're older, you want to be able to look back and feel that you were really part of Liverpool's great history. Win something here and they will always remember you. I want to be remembered as a Liverpool player who was part of something special.

* Gini Wijnaldum was speaking to the ECHO's James Pearce for the PFA magazine.