Reina: I couldn't wait for that
Pepe Reina admitted it felt good to be back between the Anfield sticks against Wigan Athletic on Saturday and lavished praise upon Liverpool's classy second-half performance in the 3-0 win.
The Spain custodian returned to the team for the first time since October 7 after being sidelined by a hamstring injury and was able to keep a clean sheet as a Luis Suarez brace and a rare Jose Enrique strike secured the win.
Reina told Liverpoolfc.com: "I felt good. I'm totally fit and glad to be back.
"I couldn't wait as it was the longest spell in my time here without playing. We always wanted to take care of the injury and had to be patient.
"You're always happy to get a clean sheet. If you do that, it's almost guaranteed we'll win the game, so that's the way to go."
Liverpool dominated the contest throughout, but were unable to make the breakthrough in the first half.
However, moments after the re-start, Suarez fired the Reds ahead before soon adding his second. Enrique sealed the win when he tapped home on 66 minutes.
Reina reflected: "The second half was fantastic. We dominated the game for 90 minutes but couldn't create enough opportunities in the first half.
"But the second half was much better for us. We moved the ball very well at a high tempo and we found the space.
"The manager told us at half-time just to keep trying and to move the ball a bit quicker. He told us to be more consistent on our counter-attacks or set pieces. That's what we did and it worked out.
"It was important to get the win. These are the kind of games we need to win, especially at home, to keep climbing up the table and get ourselves in a better position. I'm happy to get the win, happy to come back and happy for the clean sheet as well."
Suarez's goals took his tally for the season so far to 13 - and Reina is confident he'll continue to find the target over the coming weeks.
The 'keeper said: "He is in unbelievable form right now. We have to give credit to him because it seems like he is scoring in every game.
"He is a great player and it's very important for us to keep him fit - I'm sure there'll be many more [goals] to come."
One man not quite so prolific is Enrique, who netted his first ever Barclays Premier League goal.
It took the Spaniard 53 appearances to score his maiden Liverpool goal - and Reina isn't expecting to see the defender hitting the back of the net on a regular basis from now on.
Asked if he felt it could be the first of many for Enrique, he joked: "If he plays in that position, maybe he can score one or two more, but being realistic he plays left-back, and with his skills at shooting I very much doubt it!
"He is a really good friend of mine, but this is his first goal in several years of playing in the top divisions, so you cannot be too optimistic!"
He added: "I think it is the first - and probably last - goal of his career! I am quite happy because he is training good and looking after himself very well, especially lately. The reward was there.
"He has faced tough times at the beginning of the season, but now he is back in top form once again."
The win over Wigan extended Liverpool's unbeaten run in the Barclays Premier League to seven matches, and Reina added: "It's good. We want to win every game. I wouldn't mind if we'd lost two of them, but won the other five.
"We are now a really tough team to beat, but we have to turn it up, squeeze a little bit more out and turn those draws into wins."