Rafa Benitez is pleased his contract dispute is now a thing of the past so his Liverpool team can concentrate on the title race.
Their first opportunity to build on last weekend's outstanding victory at Manchester United will be when Aston Villa, who are still fighting for a Champions League spot, visit Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool are unlikely to have midfielder Xabi Alonso back after the Spain international missed the Old Trafford triumph with an ankle injury.
Full-back Alvaro Arbeloa, who injured his hamstring in the warm-up for that match, should play, but midfielder Yossi Benayoun is unlikely to be involved because of a knee problem. Fernando Torres, who battled through the Manchester United match with an ankle injury, will be fit.
Benitez believes everyone can now concentrate on the challenge of catching United at the top of the table.
He said: "I am really, really pleased. We have been talking about things for a long time, so it is good that it's been finalised and we can finish with the talks. Now we can start working with everything sorted."
He added: "It was a distraction in every single press conference because I was asked the same question. I was trying to concentrate on football and I think we were doing well."
Their first opportunity to build on last weekend's outstanding victory at Manchester United will be when Aston Villa, who are still fighting for a Champions League spot, visit Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool are unlikely to have midfielder Xabi Alonso back after the Spain international missed the Old Trafford triumph with an ankle injury.
Full-back Alvaro Arbeloa, who injured his hamstring in the warm-up for that match, should play, but midfielder Yossi Benayoun is unlikely to be involved because of a knee problem. Fernando Torres, who battled through the Manchester United match with an ankle injury, will be fit.
Benitez believes everyone can now concentrate on the challenge of catching United at the top of the table.
He said: "I am really, really pleased. We have been talking about things for a long time, so it is good that it's been finalised and we can finish with the talks. Now we can start working with everything sorted."
He added: "It was a distraction in every single press conference because I was asked the same question. I was trying to concentrate on football and I think we were doing well."
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