Sami Hyypia looks set to stay while Riise heads for LFC exit

Mar 27 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

SAMI HYYPIA appears set to sign a new contract this weekend which will extend his stay at Anfield beyond a decade – as John Arne Riise admits his days at the club are numbered.

Hyypia’s current deal runs out at the end of the season, but Liverpool mananger Rafael Benitez yesterday spoke of his confidence that talks on an extension will be concluded this week.

He said: “Rick Parry (chief executive) is due to talk to Sami’s agent this weekend, and we hope everything will then be finished.”

Hyypia – who has been linked with Fulham and Newcastle – has made it clear he wants to end his top-flight career at Anfield, and is now expected to sign another one-year extension.

That means Hyypia will join a select band of Liverpool players who have spent more than 10 years at the club, the Finn having arrived under Gerard Houllier back in 1999.

The 34-year-old has made no secret of his desire to remain on Merseyside.

Earlier this year, he said: “It would be very nice to get to 10 years at the club, but I’m just concentrating on playing well.

“Whether I stay wouldn’t depend on how many games I play. I’m not like that. I’m not interested in somebody promising me something.

“If we have four centre-backs then everyone fights for their place, and performances should determine who plays.

“If I keep playing well then it’ll be difficult for the manager to change things.”

Hyypia was expected to take a back seat this season, thanks to Danish youngster Daniel Agger’s considerable progress as a partner for Jamie Carragher.

But Agger has missed virtually all the season with a broken metatarsal and has now been ruled out until next term.

Hyypia has therefore played 37 games this season and been one of Liverpool’s most consistent performers.

Next season, with Agger back fit and new boy Martin Skrtel continuing to develop, Hyypia can expect to be used less frequently.

But Benitez wants his experience around Anfield as a strong back-up to the new boys.

Hyypia was a key part of the 2001 treble-winning campaign, at the back alongside Stephane Henchoz. He was one of the top contributors on the road to Champions League glory in Istanbul, scoring a cool volley which proved crucial in the quarter-final defeat of Juventus.

Riise, however, is considering ending his seven-year Anfield career after failing to hold down a regular starting place this season.

The re-emergence of Fabio Aurelio after injury has relegated Riise to the bench of late with the attacking left-back also losing out to Ryan Babel in his attempts to secure a more attacking role in the side.

Riise said: “I am not happy with the situation. I am used to playing in 80% of all the games, but if I don’t get to play as much as I want to I have to make a choice this summer as to whether I should stay or not.

“I just have to wait and see what will happen. Maybe I will be offered a new contract, maybe not. It’s frustrating not knowing if you are going to play the next game or not.”