BR: New style is perfect for Pepe
Brendan Rodgers has hailed the attitude and work rate of Pepe Reina and backed the Spanish stopper to succeed in his quest to return to peak form over the coming weeks.
Reina, now seven games into his eighth Anfield season, is a veteran of the current squad and Rodgers believes the man from Madrid, who learnt his trade at Barcelona's La Masia, has an integral role to play in helping implement a new style of football at Anfield.
"I can't speak highly enough of Pepe," he told the Liverpool Echo. "He's a keeper who has really impressed me. He's a good guy who comes in and works hard every day.
"Like all the other players here he's trying to improve and become a better player.
"Pepe has been here for a number of years and has proved himself over a long period of time. He's obviously adapting to a new style but this is a way of working which is perfect for Pepe.
"He came through the Barcelona model so he understands this way of playing and what I'm trying to do perfectly.
"He's working very hard to get in the best possible moment in his game.
"As a team, we just need to cut out the kind of mistakes we've been making. If we do that then everyone will benefit from that, including Pepe."
The manager believes Reina showcased his true quality when he leapt to palm away Medhi Benatia's dangerous effort during the Europa League group-stage clash against Udinese at Anfield.
Four days later, the former Villarreal stopper was at his agile best when he denied former Red Charlie Adam and then Michael Kightly to clinch his first league shut-out of the season against Stoke.
"That header against Udinese, it looked like a goal," added Rodgers. "I think everyone inside Anfield probably felt it was probably going to go in.
"But it was a wonderful reaction from Pepe and a great arm to push it out.
"There is obviously a lot of pressure on every player when they play for a top club, but it's at moments like that when you see who the top keepers really are."