Pepe, Best Goalkeeper in Prem - Rafa
By Mighty Reds
August 24 2009
Rafa Benitez believes Pepe Reina is the best goalkeeper in the Premier League and is pleased with the early season form he’s showing. This will be Pepes 5th season at Anfield and during that time he’s become a strong favourite with fans.
Rafa said:
"Pepe is the best in the Premier League for me. He is the number one,"
"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."
"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."
"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."
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Pepe is a fantastic goalkeeper, the best in the Prem as far as I can see. One bad game doesn't take that away.
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“Liverpool Football club exists not to make money, it exists to win trophies and be a source of pride for its supporters. It serves no other purpose.”. Bill Shankly
Quote:Reds
the best in the Prem as far as I can see.
WOW, Im surprised.
He's the first "best in the Prem" who would rather play volleyball than actually, you know, save the ball...
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Dont worry Reds I'll reply for you "Everyone has a bad game, he's the best in the Prem, he's the best, the best, eh, you get it, the best"
Quote:cheerycherry
Funny how a United fan has turned up considering they are currently relying on a Keeper who cant even deal with the simplest backpasses reliably.
Another thing that hasnt surprised me today - A Liverpool supporter who has gone completely off-topic.
Reina is athletic, aware, great distribution and very much commands his area.
Just cuz he plays for this mob won't stop me admitting that.
He was the guy who set up Dossena (DOSSENA!!!) for the fourth against us last season and has done so with his kicking on a few times
dont like to admit it, but the best all round keeper in the prem, certainly for his age