Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina has welcomed back club captain Steven Gerrard from injury because of the positive effect he has on the team. Gerrard started his first game for in seven months on Saturday against Manchester United at Anfield after recovering from a groin injury.
"Stevie is the badge of this football club, the soul of this team and we are more than happy to have him back in the team," said the Spaniard in the Liverpool Echo.
"Hopefully he will be back for a long, long time. Just by the fact that he is on the pitch it is an inspiration for us.
"He always leads by example and anything he does he does with passion and a lot of commitment. He is a born winner."
Liverpool are currently in fifth spot on 14 points but Reina is optimistic for the rest of the campaign.
"It's a positive thing to be disappointed at having not beaten Manchester United," said the 29-year-old.
"It speaks well about the hunger of the team and the performance of the team that clearly we deserved three points. It was unlucky but we have to keep going.
"We have been consistent so far this season. We had just one poor game at Spurs (4-0 defeat in September).
"It shows without doubt the progress that has been made. We are all much happier than a year ago.
"It is not about belief. It is about the quality of the team and the squad and the strength we have as a group.
"We have to work on a daily basis to improve, keep going and compete more often with the people above us.
"We will find out at the end of the season and hopefully the distance won't be that big."
