Liverpool boys praise Reina

Rafa Benitez and Steven Gerrard have praised the importance of Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina. The Liverpool keeper played a very important part of the 2-0 victory over Fulham on Saturday.

Benitez said on the club’s official website: "Reina is a goalkeeper with real game intelligence. He can read the game and play the kind of balls he delivered to Torres. He can play these passes to strikers if strikers move for the ball.

"A modern goalkeeper needs to be able to read the game like this. That is the difference.

"You can save 100 balls, but if you don't do something more you will be a good goalkeeper – not a top class goalkeeper."

Gerrard added: "He doesn't just kick it upfield and give us 50-50 balls. He passes it out from the back. He's a quality goalie."