RAFA AND RICK DELIGHTED BY DOUBLE DEAL

Rafael Benitez and Rick Parry today spoke of their delight after seeing Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher commit their long-term futures to Liverpool Football Club.
The club captain and vice-captain returned from England duty on Monday afternoon to sign new contracts that will keep them at Anfield until 2011.

For Benitez, working tirelessly to bring new players into the club, it sends out a clear message about where Liverpool Football Club are heading.

"These are two very important deals," Benitez told liverpoolfc.tv, "because they are about safeguarding the future of this football club. Stevie and Jamie both wanted to stay at the club. They have a passion for this club and you can see that in the way they play. They are 100% committed to Liverpool and now they can be 100% focussed on their futures at Anfield.

"I think these deals send out a key message as we enter a crucial period. Other players will look at Stevie and Carra committing their future to Liverpool and understand that this means we are determined to progress on the pitch.

"When we talk to players we'd like to sign for this club, we can point to the fact that they will be playing alongside the likes of Stevie and Carra. Now these two deals are complete, we need to continue working on bringing in new players and keeping the ones we already have."

One man key to helping Benitez bring in those players is Rick Parry, who was equally pleased to see the club's two longest-serving players extend their stay at Anfield.

"It was a priority for us to get two of our most important players - and two local players - signed up to new contracts. It's a very positive statement we feel and sends out an important message.

"There's a lot of work - an awful lot of work - going on in the background. It's important we get the right players and there will be a lot of activity at the club to come but we're delighted to see Steven and Jamie sign these contracts today."