As one Liverpool right-back committed his future to Anfield, another one took steps to get the vital experience he needs to become a part of Liverpool’s future. Steve Finnan signed his new contract, Lee Peltier agreed to a half-season loan deal at Yeovil.
Finnan had said he would sign his new deal as soon as the club got back from their trip to Hong Kong, and he did so yesterday. The deal runs for two years, with an option for a third after that. This means the player could be at the club until he’s 34. He was the last of Liverpool’s current squad to sign new deals this summer, following on from captain Steven Gerrard, vice-captain Jamie Carragher, goalkeeper Pepe Reina and midfielders Xabi and Alonso Momo Sissoko.
Twenty-year-old Peltier knows that with Finnan and Arbeloa ahead of him for the right-back position he won’t get too many chances in the first-team yet, save perhaps for League Cup games. Even substitute appearances are limited, although Rafa does sometimes use the luxury of the seven subs allowed in Europe to include youngsters in the match squad. He can also play in midfield, but the competition there is even greater. By joining League One side Yeovil until December, Peltier will get experience of first-team competitive fooball. He spent some time on loan at Hull last season, making seven appearances for the Yorkshire side.