Thursday’s News Round-up

Here’s what’s hitting the headlines today around Anfield’¦

Reina signs five year contract
Liverpool have announced that goalkeeper Pepe Reina has signed a new contract which will keep him at Anfield until at least 2012.

The news comes just days after midfielder Steven Gerrard and defender Jamie Carragher pledged their commitment to the club’s future by signing until 2011.

The Spanish shot stopper has an impressive record of clean sheets since joining Liverpool from Villarreal in the summer of 2005 and was the hero of the 2006 FA Cup Final penalty shoot-out victory over West Ham.

“It was always my wish to sign a new deal because this is a good club which is looking forward to a very ambitious and attractive project,” said Reina.

Momo and Xabi to follow in Pepe’s footsteps?
Follwing Pepe Reina’s contract extension, reports today suggest that midfielders Momo Sissoko and Xabi Alonso are set to end transfer speculation about them by also signing new contracts with the club. Negotiations with both players are said to be well under way.

Sissoko has been consistently linked with a move to Juventus since losing his first team place to Argentine international Javier Mascherano, whilst Alonso had been linked with a move to Barcelona.

Eto’o denies Rafa meeting
Cameroon international striker Samuel Eto’o has denied reports suggesting he met with Reds boss Rafael Benitez on Monday evening over a potential summer move to Anfield.

“It is just a huge lie,” Eto’o’s agent, Jose Mesalles.

“Eto’o was in Belgium with the Cameroon squad on Monday night. We do not understand why these flase stories keep appearing. The club knows all too well that he is very happy at Barcelona and wants to stay. He has a very good contract and wants to comply with that.”

Pennant collapses on flight
And The Times reports that right-winger Jermaine Pennant is recovering after papssing out on a flight back to England from Spain.

Pennant had been on holiday in Spain with Barnet’s Paolo Vernazza and Charlton’s Jonathan Fortune and is thought to have been drinking heavily the night before the flight.

Pennant’s agent Sky Andrew told The Times, ‘œHe is fine now. He just had a bit of dehydration.’

Liverpool X1 vs Colchester Utd, 28th July
And ticket details have been published for a Liverpool X1 vs Colchester United friendly match to be played at Colchester’s Layer Road on Saturday, 28th July.

Liverpool have received an allocation of 1,000 tickets for this ‘˜all ticket’ pre-season fixture. For more information, click here.