• Israel midfielder tied to Liverpool until 2012
• Rafael Benítez stresses importance of stability
David Ngog, Nabil El Zhar and Yossi Benayoun during a
Liverpool training session.
Yossi Benayoun has marked his transformation at
Liverpool
by agreeing terms on a new contract that will tie him to
Anfield until 2012.
The Israel international has two years remaining on his current
deal but, following an impressive ending to last season, has been
rewarded with a pay rise and a 12-month extension by the manager,
Rafael Benítez. An agreement is in place with the 29-year-old and
the contract will be signed ahead of the new season, underlining
the extent of the midfielder's rapid recovery at Anfield.
"I am very happy that we have reached an agreement," said
Benayoun. "Of course, to be at a club like this is a dream come
true and I want to keep playing here. Hopefully now I can
concentrate on the hard work that needs to be done and try to play
better and better and win some silverware."
Benayoun instigated talks on his Liverpool future with Benítez
only in January amid concern over his lack of first-team
opportunities. He responded to the manager's assurances with the
finest spell of his career on Merseyside, scoring seven goals in
the final four months of the campaign, including the winner at Real
Madrid in the Champions League, and playing an influential role in
Liverpool's lengthy pursuit of Manchester United for the Premier League
title.
The midfielder is the fifth senior player to commit his future
to Liverpool in recent months, following Steven Gerrard, Fernando
Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Daniel Agger, and Benítez admits stability in
his squad – currently threatened by Real Madrid's and Barcelona's
interest in Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano respectively – was a
prerequisite for this summer.
