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Reina: Alonso hard to replace

12 Aug 2009 - 10:09:21

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Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina has admitted that midfielder Xabi Alonso will be almost impossible to replace in the Anfield engine room.

The 27-year-old schemer has left Anfield to head back to his homeland to join Real Madrid, with Roma's Alberto Aquilani brought in as the man to try and plug the gap left by Alonso's departure.

Reina told the Daily Star: "It is very difficult to find a player like Xabi. He is like a fabulous orchestra conductor on the pitch.

"Of the central midfielders in the world it is very difficult to find one as complete as Alonso.

"He can do everything. He can play short passes, long passes, he heads it well and he is tactically very astute."

Meanwhile, Reds boss Rafa Benitez has voiced his hopes that striker Fernando Torres will be used sparingly in Spain's friendly international against FYR Macedonia.

He told The Mirror: "We would like to take things carefully and ease him back in, but of course it is now out of control because he is with Spain.

"It is hard to say where he is at, but he came back very late because he was with Spain in such an important tournament (Confederations Cup).

"He has gone with the national team and we are talking with the staff to make sure they do the right things with him. That is all we can hope."