Dalglish confident Liverpool can keep hold of Reina

Posted Saturday, April 16, 2011 by Mkdons-mad.co.uk

Kenny Dalglish believes Liverpool’s miraculous revival will persuade Pepe Reina to ditch any thoughts of quitting Anfield.

As the Reds boss prepares to face Arsenal tomorrow, Dalglish revealed he is confident of keeping the Anfield No.1 out of the Gunners’ clutches.

Emirates chief Arsene Wenger made a bid to land Reina, 28, last summer, and the Spain star has hardly dampened rumours of the move being resurrected, with persistent suggestions that he is unhappy.

The former Barcelona keeper only signed a five-year deal 12 months ago, but has a £20million release clause, which Arsenal could yet trigger.

Reina has consistently said he wants to see signs of progress at Anfield, or he will reconsider his future.

But Dalglish is adamant recent results will persuade Reina his long-term future is at Liverpool.

Dalglish said: “I can’t speak for how he believes it is going. I can only tell you about how I personally, and the club as a whole, feels about him.

“Whatever he feels about us going in the right direction is up to him – but he doesn’t look too unhappy to me. I think what he said was lost in translation.

“I’ve always believed he is one of the best in the Premier League, maybe even world football.”

Dalglish was fortunate enough to play alongside and manage two of the all-time great Liverpool keepers in Ray Clemence and Bruce Grobbelaar.

The Kop boss was reluctant to make comparisons between eras, but he said Reina would hold his own against Anfield’s greats.

He said: “Clem was one of the best and this boy probably is the best in his time, so I don’t think it’s fair to compare records.

“But I certainly won’t be picking Clem for the game on Sunday. He’s 60-odd now, so I think Reina must be much better.”

Wenger has conceded that Arsenal need to win all of their remaining games to have any chance of winning the title.

Victory is just as vital for the Reds – who have not won at the Emirates in 13 attempts – as they continue their revived bid for a Champions League spot, however remote.

Dalglish said: “I am not interested in what pressure Arsenal are under.

“They are a fantastic side and everyone involved in football enjoys watching them.

“But we weren’t too bad against Manchester City midweek either, so if we can reach that level it could be one hell of a game.”