Rafa Benitez has moved to quickly reject reports that have suggested that Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel is unsettled at the club and is looking to leave Anfield soon.

Skrtel joined Liverpool in the January transfer window last season from Russian side Zenith Saint Petersburg and has successfully established himself as a regular in the defence. However, currently the Slovakian international is on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury last month.

Benitez said “These sort of stories always tend to come out during an international week...I was talking with Martin...it was clear that he is very happy and just wants to get back playing...He is working very hard to get himself fit again and he is very settled at Liverpool”.

Skrtel is not expected to be fit until the new year.