Takumi Minamino admits Liverpool's Premier League championship celebrations left him with mixed emotions as he vowed to contribute more during the second half of their title defence.
Minamino arrived at Anfield just over 12 months ago having completed a £7.25million move from Red Bull Salzburg.
He made 10 league appearances last term which was sufficient to earn a Premier League winners' medal.
And the Japan international believes his feeling on the Anfield podium as he lifted the trophy has given him extra incentive to play a bigger part this campaign.
"It isn't very easy to describe my feelings," he said. "Of course I was happy but at the same time I only played for the team for half the season and I was quite doubtful I had contributed to the team 100%.
"When I lifted the trophy I was feeling proud but at the same time I thought that I needed to play well throughout a whole season and my aim is to hopefully do that and help the team to lift the trophy again this season."
Minamino, who celebrates his 26th birthday today, reiterated his adaptation to life in England was made more testing by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
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"I am used to living in the UK now and I have been studying the language as well, although it has been a bit difficult because of the COVID situation," he said.
"I have made very good friends with all the players in the team but I often speak with the players who speak German such as Xherdan Shaqiri, Naby Keita, Sadio Mane and Joel Matip - I have a lot of communication with them."
Minamino, who has made 16 outings this season, scored his first Premier League goal in the 7-0 win at Crystal Palace before Christmas and provided an assist for Gini Wijnaldum in the FA Cup win at Aston Villa last time out.
He will be hopeful of some involvement when Liverpool entertain Manchester United on Sunday, and has explained how the League Cup semi-finalists provided inspiration that set him on his path to Anfield.
Speaking to the official Liverpool FC matchday programme, Minamino said: "I was inspired by Shinji Kagawa, who played at Manchester United. The reason for that is that I used to play for a team in Japan that Kagawa used to play for, Cerezo Osaka.
"So we were at the same club and while I was in Japan I watched him playing for United and I also imagined myself playing in the Premier League as well."
