Rafa Benitez has expressed his satisfaction in securing Steven Gerrard’s signature for a contract extension.

The new deal will see the Liverpool skipper stay at Anfield until 2013.

"We have spent this summer trying to secure the players we have," said Benitez to Liverpool's official website.

"It's really good to keep [Dirk] Kuyt, [Fernando] Torres, [Daniel] Agger, [Yossi] Benayoun and Steven. They are the here and now of the club."

"We are really pleased. We have a lot of good players who want to stay, to win and compete," added the Spaniard.

"The message has to be the same again this year - to be there, to be contenders and to fight. If we can win trophies it would be fantastic."