Reina: I'm staying at Anfield to win the league

Pepe Reina has lifted the lid on the reasons why he is ready to extend his Liverpool career – as he urged supporters raise the roof at Anfield tonight.

The Reds' goalkeeper and most consistent player this season will put pen-to-paper on a new long-term deal "within the next month" and is excited at the prospect.

Though this campaign has been laced with disappointment, Reina is clinging to the belief that it could yet have a silver lining in the Europa League and is confident of a bold show as Liverpool seek to salvage a 1-0 first leg deficit against Lille.

But, most significantly, Reina is certain the future for Rafa Benitez's side is bright.

He believes the experiences they have been through this term can help them rebuild and is desperate to play his part in bringing back the good times.

"The club has been good to me and I am grateful," said Reina. "My family believe there is no better place to be than here and that's why we'll be here a bit longer - much longer.

"There is nothing I feel more excited about than the chance of winning the league once with Liverpool. That would be a dream and hopefully in a short period it will come true.

"I hope we will build something good from the weak moments we have had this season.

"A proper team, a strong team has to do that and Liverpool is a strong team."

Liverpool go into the clash with Lille in far better spirits than they did when travelling to France for the first leg last week, thanks to the 4-1 thrashing of Portsmouth on Monday.

Benitez will have no option but to urge his side to go for goals as they attempt to book a place in the last eight and keep the dream of winning in Hamburg in May alive. Reina would love nothing more than to get his hands on a piece of silverware but, if that is to become reality, he knows Liverpool will need to play with assurance this evening - and he also knows the home crowd will have to turn up the volume.

"This is the only trophy we can lift and it is massively important to us," said Reina. "Winning a trophy is always good, no matter how your season has been.

"We know this season hasn't been good enough and we can do better. Everybody knows that. But as long as we have the possibility to win a trophy, that is the main thing. The target was to fight for the title but right from the beginning we did not do well.

Benitez will have to make changes as Maxi Rodriguez is ineligible and Alberto Aquilani has had a stomach bug but will leave his decision until as late as possible.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.