Pepe Reina calls on Liverpool to improve next season

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina has called on Liverpool to show more consistency next season and mount a challenge for the Premier League title.

The Spain international, who has been linked with a summer move away from Anfield, dropped his biggest hint yet that he intends to stay at Liverpool by urging his team-mates to make a strong start to the new campaign.

“We started this season and the last one not the best,” Reina said. “Next time, we need to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Liverpool’s interim manager Kenny Dalglish has helped guide the club out of the bottom half of the Premier League table and into a respectable sixth position.

Only Manchester United have amassed more points than Liverpool in the league since Dalglish took control of first team affairs at Anfield – and the Reds have recorded victories over both Chelsea and United in that time.

But while their return to form has been nothing short of miraculous, Reina believes Liverpool are guilty of complacency against the so-called smaller teams in the top flight.

“We cannot just perform against the top sides because a season is ten months long,” continued the Liverpool goalkeeper. “If we get the balance right, we’ll be a lot, lot closer to where we want to be.

“We have improved since Kenny became manager, we have beaten the big teams, but it is important as players to repeat that in every game. We need to be consistent with the aggression, commitment – everything.”