Published: Tuesday, 19th January, 2010 5:00pm

Federici dismisses Liverpool link

by Anthony Smith

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ADAM Federici has dismissed stories suggesting Liverpool want to sign him as back-up for Pepe Reina.

Royals' keeper, who turns 25 at the end of the month, was last week linked with a £2 million-plus move to the Premier League giants.

It was thought Reds' under-pressure boss Rafa Benitez was highly impressed with Federici's performance in Reading's shock FA Cup third round victory against the seven-time winners.

And the rumours gained more credibility when Federici's father, Terry, confirmed Liverpool's interest in his son.

But the Australian goalkeeper blamed a local journalist in his hometown of Jervis Bay for concocting the story.

"It's been quite interesting to read about the stuff but I've had no contact from anyone," he told the Chronicle.

"I'm from a small town and if a local reporter rings up and has a casual conversation with my father it can go a bit pear-shaped.

"But he obviously knew what he was doing and I've had no contact from any club.

"Of course it's good to see your name in the papers and it's fantastic to be linked with a club like Liverpool, but I'm a Reading player and I'm sure I will be for a long time."

Quotes from Federici's father appeared in the media recently and suggest there was an element of truth behind the rumours.

"There is some substance to it, but I don't know how keen Reading would be to let him go given he is their first-choice keeper," his father allegedly said.

"Adam has always wanted to play with one of the top four or five clubs. If I was advising him, in the big scheme of things, you'd have to be mad not to not to take it."

But Federici insisted: "There was bit of creative writing.

"Obviously I get paid to deal with the media not my parents. But some cheeky reporter rang my home, it was out of order."

And after several years as understudy to Marcus Hahnemann at Reading, Federici also says he does not want to end up in a similar position at Anfield.

"I've worked so hard to be number one, why would I want to go up there, sit on the bench and have to start all over again?" he remarked.

"I'm enjoying my time as number one and I want to stay there. My aim is first to keep us up then go from there."

Meanwhile, Federici is urging his team-mates to repeat their Liverpool performance for the remainder of the season.

Royals are in a relegation dogfight in the Championship just one point above the bottom three following last weekend's 2-1 defeat at promotion-chasing Nottingham Forest.

"It's always hard playing after 120 minutes of football two days before another game," he argued.

"Beating Liverpool showed how good we can be but that's the standard we have to set ourselves every single game. We've got to play to that again this weekend.

"But we're not looking for excuses. Forest are near the top of the table for a reason and I would go as far as to say they're the best team in the division.

"On a positive note, to come out for the second-half at 2-0 down and play as well as we did was encouraging. We made a lot of chances and could have won it."

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