Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has hinted he doesn't intend to lose Sami Hyypia during the January market.

Newcastle, Sunderland and Tottenham are among clubs chasing the Finn, who is set to make his 700th Liverpool appearance against Stoke City this weekend.

"I have a lot of confidence in Sami," Benitez told liverpoolfc.tv. "He is a fantastic professional so I knew he would play really well.

"Clearly, when you talk about Sami you are talking about a player who has been here for a long time.

"Everybody knows he is a nice lad, a very good professional and a very good player, so we are really pleased to keep him here.

"We have very good centre-backs here and it is good to see all of them competing for a place. That can only be good for the team."