BENITEZ: PEPE IS THE COMPLETE 'KEEPER
Rafa Benitez believes Pepe Reina will play an integral part in Liverpool's title bid this season - and has backed the 'complete goalkeeper' to once again claim his share of assists along the way.
The Spaniard has enjoyed a fine start to the 2009-10 campaign and turned out a man of the match performance in the opening day clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
Benitez feels Reina's excellent from has underlined his credentials as the best goalkeeper in the Barclays Premier League, and says the custodian's unique penchant for creating chances for the Reds' forward line also makes him something of an attacking threat.
"Pepe is the best in the Premier League for me. He is the number one," said the boss.
"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. 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.
"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.
"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."
Benitez added: "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.
"The keeper is really a key player, think of Schmeichel and Van der Sar last season for Manchester United."
Reina was largely unemployed in last Wednesday's comprehensive 4-0 victory over Stoke City at Anfield, though the 26-year-old did produce a fantastic flying save to thwart Rory Delap in the early stages of the second period.
"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," continued Benitez.
"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.
"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."
