Pepe: It could work both ways
Pepe Reina has pledged that former allegiances must be forgotten when old friends Rafa Benitez and Fernando Torres visit Anfield as employees of Chelsea on Sunday.
Reina was brought to Anfield from Villarreal by Benitez in 2005 and established himself as one of the finest goalkeepers in the Barclays Premier League under the tutelage of his compatriot.
The stopper also shared a dressing room with Torres for three-and-a-half years and remains a teammate of the striker when both are international duty for world champions Spain.
But the 'keeper insists those relationships are considered a distant memory when three points are on offer to Liverpool.
He told Liverpoolfc.com: "Any time you wear the Liverpool shirt you have to be at your best and especially playing at Anfield against such a big club as Chelsea.
"Everybody knows what a great manager Rafa is. He's showing it now at Chelsea and he showed it in the past here at Liverpool.
"The appreciation for Rafa will be there, but there are three points and a big opponent - we have to aim for those three points.
"It's a football game; he will be looking for the same thing, three points on Sunday for them is massive. They are in the middle of a fight for those top four places. For us, we have to finish the season well and try to be as consistent as possible."
Will Benitez's knowledge of Liverpool as a club and several of the players at Brendan Rodgers' disposal provide the Blues boss with any advantage?
"It can be an advantage and can work against you as well, for the same reason," said Reina.
"He's going to be well prepared and Chelsea are going to be right up for it from the very first whistle. But so will we. It's a massive game at home and a game you like to be involved in as a player, of course."
Reina revealed he has acclimatised to the experience of facing Torres in opposition - and expects the former Liverpool pair to receive fond welcomes when they return to Anfield.
"It's not the first time but at the beginning it was weird because we were so close on and off the pitch. But that's football, you leave friends along the way," the 'keeper concluded.