Liverpool defender Jose Enrique bemoans being frozen out of team

Jose Enrique has had enough of being left out at Liverpool.

The defender is none too pleased at being left out of the team sheets week in and week out, despite being healthy and ready to play. Even though he's been told he and a handful of his teammates can leave Liverpool, the Spanish full-back says he's not ready to quit competing for a starting role just yet.

"I'm in a difficult situation," Enrique told Marca, as translated by ESPN. "They have pushed aside (Mario) Balotelli, (Fabio) Borini and myself. I have a year left on my contract, and I guess the club would want to get some money, but I still want to stay and to fight for a place as I have always done."

Enrique's not ruling out a move, either. He's in the final year of his contract with Liverpool and the chances of a contract extension are slim at best. But he says his options abroad aren't exactly comparable to Anfield.

"If a good opportunity comes up, with more years of contract, and more chances to play, I would look at it," the 29-year-old said. "I am not going to give up. In football things can change overnight. I know that from experience."

"What I believe is that I'm not going to play at a better team than this," he added. "The only ones better are Real Madrid or Barcelona. I had a very good opportunity to return to Spain, but it is difficult as the financial situation is very different than here. The only teams that can afford what is paid in England are the two big clubs so I am delighted to remain here until my legs give up."

Enrique was a regular in the Liverpool starting lineup until picking up a knee injury halfway through 2013. He only featured four times last year as a result.

"My knee is perfect, after two years of problems, and Liverpool must include me in the squad," Enrique said. "Also, in the squad there's just one natural left-back (Alberto Moreno) and I know that if I stay, I am going to play.

"I want to show that some people have been wrong about me."