Jermaine Pennant believes he is starting to repay the faith that Rafa put in him when he paid around £7 million last summer for the ex-Birmingham man on the same day that Real Madrid issued a hands-off warning for their striker.
JP had a very poor start to the season and was widely tipped to be an Anfield failure, but in recent weeks and months the player has shown improvement and has been happy with some of his delays.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo Pennant said:
“I’m in good form at the moment, but that’s as part of the team isn’t it?”
“When the team’s performing it’s easier to play well yourself. Your best comes out then and at the moment I’m really enjoying my football.
“It’s pleasing to have found a consistency level. That will be pleasing to the manager and the rest of the boys as well.
“You want to do a good job and then you get rewarded for it. I feel I’m having an impact on the games.
“I know the standards expected at Liverpool and I’ve known that since the first day I came here.
“Every day is a learning curve for me and the way we play football here is great for me.
“I feel we’ve been playing well and being part of this team helps me get better and improves my confidence.
“Last night’s game (a 2-0 win against Middlesbrough) showed how confident I am out there now.”
Real Madrid today seeked to end speculation linking their captain Raul with a move to Liverpool.
Director Predrag Mijatovic told the official Real website: “Raul will stay at Real Madrid because he is our captain. He is a great player who means a lot to this club,”
“He’s got three years left on his contract and he’ll stay with us until he retires. We haven’t talked to him about the offers we’ve received for him because he still has three more years on his contract.”