Rafa recognises Reina record

Goalkeeper becomes the fastest to 50 clean sheets

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 5th February 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Rafa recognises Reina record

Reina: Record-breaker

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Rafa Benitez has paid tribute to Jose Reina after the Spaniard set a new Liverpool goalkeeping record.

Reina became the fastest shot-stopper in Liverpool's history to reach 50 clean sheets as the 25-year-old produced another shutout in the 3-0 victory over Sunderland on Saturday.

And Reds manager Benitez believes that the feat is all the more impressive because it eclipses the previous record of Liverpool legend Ray Clemence.

Reina - who joined the Reds in 2005 in a £6million move from Villarreal - racked up 50 clean sheets in 92 games to surpass Clemence's previous benchmark of 95 appearances.

"I have been talking about how good 'Pepe' (Reina) is for a very long time," said Benitez.

Terrific performance

"For him to keep 50 clean sheets since he joined the club is a terrific performance.

"And it is a goalkeeper of Ray Clemence's quality that he has beaten. Not just any goalkeeper but one of the club's greats in Clemence. That shows how good Reina has had to be.

"But it also underlines the standard of defending. A keeper cannot have 50 clean sheets if the players in front of him are not doing their job.

"Now this is something we must repeat, another 50 cleans sheets from Pepe in the same way would be ideal for us.

"It is much easier for our strikers to score goals if they know we do not have any problems in defence."

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