Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has confirmed an approach from Stoke City for defender Sami Hyypia.

"We have had an approach from Stoke about Sami, but we want to keep him," he said. "When we talked about a new contract in the summer, it was clear that Sami wanted to stay at the club.

"He is a fantastic professional, a very nice person and a great player. He is not a player we want to sell."