Rafa Benitez has pledged to keep hold of Xabi Alonso this summer after a season in which the Liverpool midfielder has demonstrated his undoubted value to the side.

Benitez appeared ready to sell Alonso last year and was considering sacrificing his compatriot in order to help fund the purchase of Gareth Barry, but the Englishman stayed at Aston Villa and Juventus were unable to match Liverpool's asking price for the Spaniard.

Despite seeming surplus to requirements in August, Alonso has enjoyed a superb season for The Reds and many questioned why his name was absent in the shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award.

And with Alonso again proving himself one of the finest exponents of the passing game, Benitez is not prepared to put the 27-year-old on the market once again, despite rumours that Real Madrid are interested.

"We had an offer from Juventus and asked a big price as he is a big player. They couldn't meet it," Benitez said.

"In the end, Xabi has been having a very good season. He has been playing well in a lot of games and is a key player for us.

"We have a lot of confidence in him and he is a player we want to keep because he has the quality, and the game, that we need."