Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has praised goalkeeper Pepe Reina and emphasized his importance to the Reds both on and off the pitch.
Reina will be looking to claim his fourth clean sheet in five matches this evening against Wolves to boost Liverpool's bid for Champions League qualification.
Benitez told the Liverpool Echo, “In a top side you have to be a top keeper and have great character. He is always pushing his team-mates and he is a leader on the pitch too.
“Pepe has had some (injury) problems but he has been playing and doing really well. At Stoke we only played him at the last minute but he was nearly man of the match.
“It’s important to have Pepe and it’s important to have Stevie back too. He has desire and he can see his team-mates working hard and you will see him do the same on the pitch.”
Commenting on negotiations over a new contract to keep the Spanish keeper at Liverpool, Benitez said, “We have had a conversation with Pepe’s agent (over a contract) and he knows our idea.
“The conversation will continue and I’m sure it will be easy to finalise and have an agreement. His mentality is very good and it is not just that he is a good keeper."
Reina will be looking to claim his fourth clean sheet in five matches this evening against Wolves to boost Liverpool's bid for Champions League qualification.
Benitez told the Liverpool Echo, “In a top side you have to be a top keeper and have great character. He is always pushing his team-mates and he is a leader on the pitch too.
“Pepe has had some (injury) problems but he has been playing and doing really well. At Stoke we only played him at the last minute but he was nearly man of the match.
“It’s important to have Pepe and it’s important to have Stevie back too. He has desire and he can see his team-mates working hard and you will see him do the same on the pitch.”
Commenting on negotiations over a new contract to keep the Spanish keeper at Liverpool, Benitez said, “We have had a conversation with Pepe’s agent (over a contract) and he knows our idea.
“The conversation will continue and I’m sure it will be easy to finalise and have an agreement. His mentality is very good and it is not just that he is a good keeper."
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