Reina needs shoulder to cry on

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.