Martin Montoya has revealed the biggest hurdle he has faced settling into the Premier League with Albion.

It is not the array of high-quality wingers confronted by the Spanish right-back.

He is used to that after nearly 70 games for Barcelona understudying Dani Alves, a loan spell at Inter Milan and two years at Valencia.

The largest obstacle is his limited English.

Manager Chris Hughton believes there is even better to come from Mali midfielder Yves Bissouma (below), another of the summer signings, once he grasps the language.

The Argus: The same is true of Montoya, who is not confident enough yet to conduct interviews other than in his mother tongue.

Montoya said: "I can see the team is growing since the start of the season. We look more solid, physically stronger, better individually. We are improving.

"Some of the signings have had to wait. When you come from another league, adapting to the Premier League is hard because of the type of football, the language, everything, and it is very demanding.

"Bit by bit, you settle in and feel a lot better. The first thing is the language.

"You have a new city, new colleagues with whom perhaps you don’t have much to talk about or it’s hard to communicate with.

"The football is different but the big thing, above all, is simply the language. That is the big thing that makes life hard."

Montoya has gradually established himself as first choice in his position over fellow countryman and Albion icon Bruno (below).

The Argus: He made his 14th league appearance in the 1-0 defeat by leaders Liverpool at the Amex, six more than the veteran skipper who has been hampered by a couple of injuries.

Amid the sigificance of Liverpool getting their title bid back on track following successive defeats, the quality of Albion's performance in terms of defending, discipline and organisation was generally overlooked.

Particularly as it was a back four and goalkeeper playing together for the first time, with David Button between the posts and Gaetan Bong restored as the other full-back in place of the injured Bernardo.

Jurgen Klopp's side had to rely on a penalty won and converted by Mo Salah after the Egyptian was tugged down by Pascal Gross.

The only other team to prevent Liverpool scoring in the Premier League in open play this season are their title rivals Manchester City. The champions held them to a 0-0 draw at Anfield in October.

Montoya played his part in restricting Liverpool's vaunted from three of Salah, Roberto Firmino and the left-sided Sadio Mane.

He said; "Defending is a bit different – depending on the opponents, really. With Liverpool, who play with their full-backs a long way up, what we wanted was for our full-backs to stay close to the centre-backs in that defensive line.

"Then, when the ball was clear, get back out. But the main thing was to stay closer to our centre-backs.

"We knew Liverpool would be very difficult, but we were good in practically all phases of the game. I thought we held out very well pretty much the whole game.

"We thought we could have got a point, maybe on a counter attack or create one chance.

"The team are working really hard. We went to the last second but it wasn't to be."

The Argus: Another difficult examination awaits Montoya and his co-defenders against Anthony Martial (above) and Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday after the narrow Liverpool defeat ended a four-match unbeaten run.

"Liverpool and Manchester United are the matches which are special in the Premier League," he said. "All the time you have important matches against top teams.

"We feel we are in a period of very good form and we could have taken another point (against Liverpool). It would have been fair for both teams.

"At Manchester United, we go out giving it our all to get another point."

The reference to a point, rather than three, is a realistic assessment. Albion have never won in 12 attempts at Old Trafford in all competitions, not scored in their last four visits.

United are also a different beast after managerial change to the one tamed 3-2 at the Amex in August, when the 27-year-old Montoya made his debut.

Bruno's close friend Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku, on target in his last two appearances for the Red Devils against the Seagulls, have struggled to get into a team which has rediscovered the attacking zest for which the club was renowned in Sir Alex Ferguson's era.

Montoya said: "United have changed. Mourinho has gone, Solskjaer has got hold of them and they keep winning.

"It will be hard, especially away from home and with the support they have there.

"It will be hard but we feel no pressure on us going there. If we can go there and get any points, all the better."