New Reds deal for Benayoun (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

New Reds deal for Benayoun

6:00pm Monday 6th July 2009

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Yossi Benayoun has signed a new Liverpool contract and insisted "playing for this club is a dream come true".

The Anfield club have rewarded the Israel skipper following his best season in English football with a new two-year extension to his current deal which has two seasons to run.

The 29-year-old told www.liverpoolfc.tv: "I am very happy that we have reached an agreement. Of course, to be at a club like this is a dream come true and I want to keep playing here."

He added: "Hopefully now I can concentrate on the hard work that needs to be done and try to play better and better and win some silverware."

Benayoun, who moved to Anfield from West Ham in July 2007, scored nine goals in 42 appearances during the 2008-09 campaign.

The high spot for Benayoun came in February at the Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, when he scored the late winner against Real in the Champions League last 16.

A dramatic stoppage-time winner at Fulham followed in April before he struck twice in the pulsating 4-4 draw with Arsenal at Anfield.

He follows Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt in committing his long-term future to the club.

Boss Rafael Benitez said: "You know that our idea was to extend the contracts of some players and Yossi was one of these players.

"He has been really good for us over the last year, scoring crucial goals and getting assists, so we wanted to keep him and I'm really pleased with the extension."

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