RAFAEL BENITEZ has hailed Pepe Reina as the most complete goalkeeper in the Premier League – and believes the Spaniard will be integral to Liverpool’s championship challenge.

Reina has started the season in fine form with a man-of-the-match performance against Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day preventing a heavier defeat for the Anfield outfit.

Since arriving from Villarreal for £6million in the summer of 2005, the 26-year-old Spain international won three successive Golden Gloves awards for keeping the most clean sheets in the top flight, and narrowly missed a fourth such accolade last season.

And as his team prepares for tonight’s Premier League visit of Aston Villa, Benitez reckons Reina is not only the last line of defence, but also the first point of attack.

“Pepe is the best in the Premier League for me,” said the Liverpool manager. “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 team-mates 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.”