Source: Liverpool_Echo
Ray Clemence: My Liverpool FC records are being broken by a top class keeper in Pepe Reina
AMID all the talk of new recruits in the January transfer window there is one department everyone accepts is in safe hands.[LNB]In Pepe Reina Liverpool boast a model of consistency who will make his 200th league appearance for the club against Fulham tonight.[LNB]Having stepped aside to allow deputy Brad Jones to play in front of Australia coach Holger Osieck against Utrecht on Wednesday night, Reina will return to action in search of a fourth successive home league clean sheet.[LNB] His shut-out in the Reds' last home league clash against Aston Villa saw the Spaniard become the quickest keeper in the club's history to reach 100 clean sheets in the league.[LNB]It was his 198th appearance and he comfortably broke the previous best held by legendary keeper Ray Clemence who took 217 games.[LNB]Arguably the greatest shot-stopper in Liverpool's history, Clemence has got used to seeing his records tumble in recent years and couldn't be happier to see his achievements surpassed by Reina.[LNB]'I didn't have a clue about that record until I was told but I'm delighted for Pepe,' Clemence said. 'It's nice to have records but they are there to be broken. You are setting targets for others to beat and Pepe has done that.[LNB]'Anyone who keeps that many clean sheets in so few games has proved himself to be top class.[LNB]'It's not easy to keep clean sheets. Your concentration has to be spot on.'[LNB]Reina still has some way to go to match the haul of honours collected by Clemence who spent 14 years at Anfield between 1967 and 1981.[LNB]The keeper Bill Shankly signed for £18,000 from Scunthorpe won an astonishing five league titles, three European Cups, two UEFA Cups, the FA Cup and the League Cup with the Reds before moving to Tottenham. Remarkably, the England international only missed six league matches in the space of 11 years and in 1978/79 conceded just four times in 21 home games.[LNB]His total of 665 appearances puts him second only to Ian Callaghan in the club's all-time list.[LNB]Reina, who signed a new deal back in April to keep him at Anfield until 2016, has spoken of his desire to join Clemence in the 600 club.[LNB]And Clemence believes the 28-year-old, who has played 283 times since signing for £6million from Villarreal in 2005, will remain as Liverpool's number one for years to come.[LNB]'Pepe really is a world class goalkeeper and is still young,' he added. 'He has all the attributes a modern goalkeeper needs. He has great reflexes and is very brave.[LNB]'One thing that has changed from my playing days is that these days you have to be more accomplished with your feet.[LNB]'You need to be a good distributor of the ball and Pepe certainly has that ability.[LNB]'His distribution is excellent and he plays a key role in the team counter attacking. His record speaks for itself.'
