Benitez defends decision to spend big on Johnson

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez has admitted he had to act quickly in a “crazy” market to secure the signing of defender Glen Johnson.

The 24-year-old right-back completed his move from Portsmouth yesterday for a fee believed to be £17million (€20m), although much of that will be offset by money still owed from Peter Crouch’s transfer to Fratton Park last summer.

Benitez has already accepted he paid over the odds for the England international but stressed there were many factors which made the deal the right one for the club.