Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is delighted with the recent form of Israel midfielder Yossi Benayoun.

"I have been talking with my staff about Yossi and we all agree that he has been playing very well recently," Benitez told liverpoolfc.tv.

"When you get to this stage of the season it can sometimes be that players are getting tired but in Yossi's case we have been able to see in training and in games that he is looking good and doing well.

"Yossi is an intelligent player who makes good movements.

"He can beat players, he can keep the ball between the lines and he is very good at spotting the opportunity for the final pass.

"He can provide assists for the other players and he can also score important goals, as we saw against Real Madrid last week.

"Like I said, he is a player with quality and game intelligence.

"He can change games. Hopefully he will be a key player for the rest of the season.

"We always talk about the importance of a squad - the players on the bench and those who are not involved in every game. Yossi is a very good example. Everyone has to be ready."