Football: Anfield arrival a dream for Benayoun.

Byline: BY IAN DOYLE Chief Football Correspondent

YOSSI BENAYOUN is hoping to keep alive the championship-winning tradition of Israeli internationals at Anfield.

The midfielder has become the third player from his country to make the move to Liverpool, following in the footsteps of Avi Cohen and Ronnie Rosenthal.

Full-back Cohen helped Liverpool clinch the title in 1980 while popular striker Rosenthal made a memorable goalscoring contribution to the club's championship triumph 10 years later after arriving during the second half of the season.

Liverpool, of course, haven't lifted the title since and manager Rafael Benitez has splashed the cash this summer in an attempt to end the drought that stretches back to 1990.

Benitez will look to Benayoun, who was unveiled at Anfield yesterday following his arrival from West Ham United in a deal worth around pounds 5million, to unpick defences in a similar manner to that which caught the eye at Upton Park.

And for the 27-year-old, the lure of challenging for honours on a regular basis was simply too good to turn down - despite the offer of a more lucrative contract to remain with the Hammers.

"When I heard Liverpool wanted me I did everything to come here," says Benayoun. "It is the dream of all players to win trophies and that's why I've come here.

"It's nothing to do with money. I simply want to accomplish my dream.

"Joining Liverpool is the biggest step of my career. I've gone from step to step through my career, and moving to West Ham was a big thing for me.

"West Ham are a big club and I've had a very good two seasons there. But I told West Ham from the beginning if I was ever going to leave them then it would be for a club like Liverpool.

"I had two or three offers from other clubs, but I told them I would never leave unless it was for Liverpool because it's my dream.

"Hopefully I will be the next Israeli to bring luck to Anfield and win the league again, but it will be hard because there are lots of good teams."

Lifting the Premier League trophy was far from Benayoun's mind last season at West Ham, when merely staying in the top flight was the priority.

But the Israeli, who had been tracked by Benitez since impressing in the Spanish league with Racing Santander, believes he can cope with the demands at the other end of the table.

"It was a difficult season at West Ham," he admits. "After the FA Cup final, we thought that we would be a better team the next season, but we started to fall and we did not stop.

"We had to work hard just to get some points and you could not enjoy your football.

"It's a different pressure to what I had at West Ham last season and I hope to enjoy this kind of pressure.

"I'm 27 now and I am ready for this challenge. I know the Premier League and I want to work hard in every training session, and in every match and prove myself.

"Liverpool is a massive club with great supporters and I can't wait to play my first game in a red shirt."

The transfer means Benayoun will again link up with Javier Mascherano having forged a bond with the Argentine international during his brief, unhappy stay at West Ham before his surprise move to Anfield.

"It will help me that Javier Mascherano is here already," he says. "I spoke with Javier a lot at West Ham because I was the only person there that spoke Spanish, and I acted as a translator for both him and Carlos Tevez when they first came over.

"When he was out of the team at West Ham, I had told him that he could play at a bigger club no problems, and look how he ended the season - playing in a Champions League final."

With Ryan Babel, Brazilian starlet Lucas, Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin adding to a plethora of midfield and attacking option for Liverpool, Benayoun acknowledges he faces a battle to ensure his first-team place.

"There is a big squad here, and when you agree to sign at a club like Liverpool you are already aware of these things," he says.

"I can play in several positions, but to tell you the truth I will play in any position as long as the manager picks me!"

Hopefully I will be the next Israeli to bring luck to Anfield and win the league again

YOSSI BENAYOUN

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Yossi Benayoun believes joining Liverpool is a dream come true