Rafael Benitez believes that securing Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher on long-term deals will help him persuade transfer targets to join Liverpool. The pair both signed new deals yesterday which will tie them to the club until 2011.

"I think these deals send out a key message as we enter a crucial period," Benitez said. "Other players will look at Stevie and Carra committing their future to Liverpool and understand that this means we are determined to progress on the pitch.

"When we talk to players we'd like to sign for this club, we can point to the fact that they will be playing alongside the likes of Stevie and Carra.

"Now these two deals are complete, we need to continue working on bringing in new players and keeping the ones we already have."

Benitez is chasing several foreign players, including Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o and Lyon winger Florent Malouda.

"New contracts for Stevie and Carra are two very important deals because they are about safeguarding the future of this club," he said. "They both wanted to stay at the club. They have a passion for this club and you can see that in the way they play.

"They are 100% committed to Liverpool and now they can be 100% focused on their futures at Anfield."

"It was a priority for us to get two of our most important players, two local players, signed up to new contracts," chief executive Rick Parry added. "It's a very positive statement we feel and sends out an important message.

"There's a lot of work - an awful lot of work - going on in the background. It's important we get the right players and there will be a lot of activity at the club to come - but we're delighted to see Steven and Jamie sign these contracts."