Reina keeps it in the family

Jose Reina admits he has turned to his father for advice and help when his Liverpool form has been criticised this season.

Last season the Spanish international was part of an Anfield defence that kept 33 clean sheets, but this term there have only been five as Liverpool have slipped out of the title race at an alarming rate.

Reina has had a lack of conviction and confidence in his game highlighted this term, although he could not be held at fault for any of the goals in last Sunday's 3-0 defeat at Arsenal.

And there has even been speculation in Spain that Valencia are monitoring Reina's situation.

But Reina, in a LFC magazine interview, says of his struggle for consistent form: "I spoke a lot to my family, especially my father. He was a great goalkeeper and there is nothing I am going through that he did not go through in his career so he has been a massive help to me."

Reina's father, Miguel, won five Spanish caps, a league title and three Spanish Cups and had an excellent career with Atletico Madrid.

The 24-year-old continued: "I remember my good form of last season and I know I set myself a very high standard, but I believe I can get better.

"I believe I can improve every aspect of my goalkeeping and that is why I train just as hard as I play. For me, you can never stand back and say that you are a good player because the best players in my position are always trying to get better."

Reina's attitude to his fluctuating form is that goalkeepers are always the ones blamed when things go wrong.

He said: "When people point out my mistakes you are reminded that as a goalkeeper you are only one person. There is no-one to share the blame with.

"But you won't hear me complaining about that, even when things are going really badly. I knew the situation you face as a 'keeper when I decided I wanted to play in that position.

"My dad was a professional goalkeeper and I knew, growing up, what I would have to face. I understand the life of a goalkeeper and if people want to criticise me they can. It does not affect me, my ability or my life.

"I am not short of confidence because I believe totally in myself. I am not quite at the levels I reached last season, but I am not the only person at the club who can say that.

"If we were all on top form we would be much higher up the league. When things are not going well and the team is losing goals, all the attention goes on the defence and the keeper. That is natural.

"But at Liverpool we understand that having a really strong defence needs everyone in the team doing their job.

"Defending starts from the front of the team with strikers closing people down and making it hard for defenders to build from the back."

Interview from LFc magazine - article from Teamtalk