Finnan ready for challenge

Liverpool defender and Irish international Steve Finnan has welcomed extra competition for places at Anfield after committing himself to the club for the rest of his career.

Manager Rafael Benitez has spent heavily this summer, shelling out a club-record fee for striker Fernando Torres and also bringing in Ajax’s Ryan Babel and West Ham’s Yossi Benayoun.

That has given the squad a fresh impetus and Finnan, who is likely to compete with Alvaro Arbeloa for the right-back slot now the Spaniard has settled in properly having joined from Deportivo in the January transfer window, believes that can only be good for the club.

“I have been here four years now and during that time a lot of players have come and gone,” he said.

“It is a squad game now and competition for places is never a problem but I am confident I can continue to hold down a regular place in the side.”

The 31-year-old, currently with Liverpool in Hong Kong to compete in the Barclays Asia Trophy, yesterday agreed a new three-year deal which he hopes will see him end his career on Merseyside.

“I cannot wait to sign the contract once we are back home,” said the Irish international.

“I am in my thirties now and there’s no doubt in my mind whatsoever that this is where I want to play for the rest of my career.

“I was never worried about not being offered a new deal to be honest. We initially spoke about it towards the end of last season, but there’s been a lot going on at the club in recent months and it was never in doubt.

“The manager assured me that I was in his plans and once talks resumed everything was tied up really quickly.”

Finnan has followed captain Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Jose Reina, Mohamed Sissoko and Xabi Alonso in agreeing new long-term contracts and the defender believes that is significant as they seek to mount a successful Premier League challenge this season.

“I am not the only player to have agreed a new deal this summer and that has got to be a good sign. It shows there is a lot of stability at the club,” he told the club’s website, www.liverpoolfc.tv.

“Everyone wants to stay and be part of what could be an exciting future. With the new owners coming, the new players we have signed and all the young players around the place there is a lot of expectation.”