Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has lavished praise upon Pepe Reina, saying that he is the complete goalkeeper and the best in the England.
"Pepe is the best in the Premier League for me. He is the number one," Benitez told Liverpool's official website.
"He is good with the ball, good in possession and he is good at organising the defenders and so he can help them. He can also start the counter-attacks. He is the complete goalkeeper.
"He is very important for us in attacking terms," continued the Spaniard.
"He is a threat to defences because when you have Torres and Pepe together you know as a defender you cannot be watching the game. Pepe can give assists.
Benitez went on to talk about Reina's attitude to training and how the role of goalkeeper has changed over the years.
"He works hard on his kicking and you can see how good he is. He has a very good mentality and is always joking so his teammates are happy with him," said the Liverpool manager.
"When you talk about goalkeepers their job has changed. Before it was just being in the six-yard box saving shots. Now they have to be reading the game and the goalkeeper is now the sweeper.
"It is not easy for him with Spain because Casillas is doing so well, but for the level Pepe is he could play for any other country."
The Spaniard believes having a top class goalkeeper can be the difference between you winning the title and dropping vital points. Benitez was also pleased Reina had reached such a high standard of goalkeeping early in the season.
"A goalkeeper can win you the title definitely. When you are attacking all the time, he might have one save to make and that can be the difference," he continued.
"The keeper is really a key player, think of Schmeichel and Van der Sar last season for Manchester United.
"We have fantastic keepers in England but at a top side like Liverpool it is very, very difficult because normally they are not involved in the game too much.
"To see Pepe at this level from the beginning of the season is really good for us.
"He is a player who needs to be focused and concentrated because he has one or two saves to make in a game.
"He started very well against Tottenham and the other day the save from Delap against Stoke was fantastic and he dealt very well with the throw-ins.
Benitez believes Reina has only improved since he joined the club, and praised his maturity and decision making, explaining, "I think he was really good when we signed him but he now has more experience and knows exactly the style of English football. He is working hard with Xavi Valero (goalkeeping coach), he is more mature.
"He has the same qualities, but because he is more mature he is relaxed and he can make better decisions."
"Pepe is the best in the Premier League for me. He is the number one," Benitez told Liverpool's official website.
"He is good with the ball, good in possession and he is good at organising the defenders and so he can help them. He can also start the counter-attacks. He is the complete goalkeeper.
"He is very important for us in attacking terms," continued the Spaniard.
"He is a threat to defences because when you have Torres and Pepe together you know as a defender you cannot be watching the game. Pepe can give assists.
Benitez went on to talk about Reina's attitude to training and how the role of goalkeeper has changed over the years.
"He works hard on his kicking and you can see how good he is. He has a very good mentality and is always joking so his teammates are happy with him," said the Liverpool manager.
"When you talk about goalkeepers their job has changed. Before it was just being in the six-yard box saving shots. Now they have to be reading the game and the goalkeeper is now the sweeper.
"It is not easy for him with Spain because Casillas is doing so well, but for the level Pepe is he could play for any other country."
The Spaniard believes having a top class goalkeeper can be the difference between you winning the title and dropping vital points. Benitez was also pleased Reina had reached such a high standard of goalkeeping early in the season.
"A goalkeeper can win you the title definitely. When you are attacking all the time, he might have one save to make and that can be the difference," he continued.
"The keeper is really a key player, think of Schmeichel and Van der Sar last season for Manchester United.
"We have fantastic keepers in England but at a top side like Liverpool it is very, very difficult because normally they are not involved in the game too much.
"To see Pepe at this level from the beginning of the season is really good for us.
"He is a player who needs to be focused and concentrated because he has one or two saves to make in a game.
"He started very well against Tottenham and the other day the save from Delap against Stoke was fantastic and he dealt very well with the throw-ins.
Benitez believes Reina has only improved since he joined the club, and praised his maturity and decision making, explaining, "I think he was really good when we signed him but he now has more experience and knows exactly the style of English football. He is working hard with Xavi Valero (goalkeeping coach), he is more mature.
"He has the same qualities, but because he is more mature he is relaxed and he can make better decisions."
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