Record-breaking Pepe Reina hails Reds defence

Feb 12 2008 by Tony Barrett

PEPE REINA today praised  the entire Liverpool team for  helping him break one of Ray Clemence's greatest records.

The Spanish stopper recently achieved 50 clean shets in the shortest time in  the club's history - and he  firmly believes the record is  a team effort.

"It's nice to reach these  kind of numbers - I am very proud," Reina said.

"But, as I've said many  times, it's not just down to  me.

"The whole of the team  defends and the back four  have been in good form in  the three years I've been  here.

"So, I have to say thanks  to them and all of my  team-mates throughout the  three years, because  without them it wouldn't  have been possible.

"Now I look forward to another 50."

Reina kept the 51st clean  sheet of his Liverpool career  against Chelsea on Sunday  as the Reds recorded a creditable draw.

Now he is looking to the  team to take the improved  form they showed at Stamford Bridge into forthcoming  games as Liverpool look  to secure themselves a  place in the Premier  League's top four.

He said: "We played  really well and created  some chances, and a  draw is always a good  result at Stamford  Bridge.

"It's always difficult to  beat them down there  - I  think it's been four years  since anyone did that.

"It's a difficult stadium  against a really top side,  so we have to be really  happy about the score  and some of the things  we did during the game.

"Now we have to get  victories and results as  good as this at Anfield.

"We have to keep playing like this, with a solid  defence and creating  chances in attack.

"It is not easy to beat  any team, and obviously  when teams come to Anfield it's difficult as well  because they defend  properly with eight, nine  or ten men behind the  ball.

"It's difficult to open  the scoring but we have  to keep trying.

"We have an important  game now in the cup and  after that Inter Milan.  It's becoming interesting."

Meanwhile, reports in a  national newspaper  today that DIC is planning to sack Rafa Benitez should it buy into  the club are wide of the  mark.

Although DIC remain  keen to buy into Liverpool FC, no discussions  have been held about the  manager's future and  none are planned.