Benayoun signs Liverpool contract extension

(CNN) -- Israeli national captain Yossi Benayoun has been rewarded for some impressive performances last season by signing a two-year extension to his Liverpool contract, which still had two seasons to run.

The 29-year-old, who moved to Anfield from West Ham in July 2007, scored nine goals in 42 appearances during the 2008-09 campaign.

The high spot came in February at the Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, when he scored the late winner against Real in the Champions League last 16.

A dramatic stoppage-time Premier League winner at Fulham followed in April before he struck twice in the pulsating 4-4 draw with Arsenal at Anfield.

Benayoun follows Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt in committing his long-term future to the club.

"I am very happy that we have reached an agreement. Of course, to be at a club like this is a dream come true and I want to keep playing here," Benaoyoun told the club's official Web site.

"Hopefully now I can concentrate on the hard work that needs to be done and try to play better and better and win some silverware."

Manager Rafael Benitez added: "You know that our idea was to extend the contracts of some players and Yossi was one of these players.

"He has been really good for us over the last year, scoring crucial goals and getting assists, so we wanted to keep him and I'm really pleased with the extension."