Benitez buoyed as Reds duo set to extend deals

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez believes the fact goalkeeper Pepe Reina and midfielder Javier Mascherano are close to signing new contracts sends out a significant statement about the club’s future.

Since last summer, starting with Barcelona’s courting of Mascherano, there has been constant speculation about several key players, and Benitez himself.

That was intensified by Liverpool’s poor start to the campaign, but since Christmas things have settled down considerably.