Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina has helped Liverpool break it’s all-time clean-sheet record after Liverpool beat Costa Rican club side Deportivo Saprissa 3-0 in the World Club Championships in Japan.

Having not conceded a goal for more than sixteen hours of play, Pepe Reina's clean-sheet against the CONCACAF Club Champions Deportivo Saprissa for Liverpool in the World Club Championship semi-final today was the team's eleventh in a row, beating the 17 year-old record set by ex-Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish's 1987/88 side.

This is due, in no small part, to the defensive capabilities of the Liverpool team, who have been defending from the front, and attacking from the back.

With the centre-back duo of England’s Jamie Carragher, and Finnish giant Sami Hyypia, who have been the mainstay of the Liverpool back line, Liverpool’s Spanish coach Rafa Benitez has re-instilled the notion of “Fortress Anfield”, the name given to the home of Liverpool FC during it’s glory days of the 70’s and 80’s, when it had one of the meanest defences around.

Two goals from England striker Peter Crouch, and the third by England's supremo midfielder, and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard were enough to see the European Champions earn a place in Sunday's final, against South American champions, Sao Paolo, for the title of World Club Champions.

23 year-old Reina, real name José Manuel Reina Páez, was signed by Liverpool from Villarreal in July 2005. Before moving to Villarreal, Reina, as a trainee, made a total of 29 appearances for Spanish giants Barcelona from 2000 - 2002.

He arrived at Liverpool with a reputation as being a penalty-saving specialist, having saved seven of the nine penalty kicks he faced during his time at Villarreal in the 2004/2005 season.

Since arriving at Anfield, Reina has taken over as first-choice goalkeeper in the place of European Cup hero, and Poland national keeper Jerzy Dudek, and is currently seen as one of the most promising young goalkeepers in European football.

Today he assured himself a place in Liverpool history with his record run of clean-sheets.

With Reina out to impress Spain’s coach Luis Aragonés, and with him being on such good form, this may leave the ‘Furia Roja’s’ coach with a tough choice to make for the World Cup finals. Spain are scheduled to play just one World Cup warm-up match, on March the 1st, before next year's World Cup finals in Germany, so Reina will be out to impress Aragonés.

Reina has already gained the attention of the Spain coach, and made his debut for the ‘Furia Roja’ in a friendly match against Uruguay in August 2005. A game that Spain won 2-0.

Spain coach Luis Aragonés had included Reina and fellow Liverpool FC players Luis Garcia, Fernando Morientes, and Xabi Alonso in a 33-strong World Cup get-together last weekend to meet up to discuss World Cup preparations. All were exempted from the meeting because of their commitments in Japan at the World Club Championships.

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