"I can't emphasise enough just how good he has been for us," said Rafa Benitez in his pre-match press conference yesterday.
"There is no doubt that he is one of the best in the world, perhaps among the top two anywhere.
"Petr Cech is up there at the top with Pepe, but after that I can't think of too many others because he has been outstanding for us, and with him we are a much, much better side.
"Over a season he is worth so many points to us, because he can stop hundreds of opportunities even being created.
"The best goalkeepers are not necessarily those that make the most saves, but those that read the game so well and are so aware they reduce the chances created. Pepe is the very best at that.
"Our defenders know he is top class, they know that he is the very best when it comes to reading a game and dealing with situations, and that gives them confidence.
"When defenders can relax about the man behind them, they have more confidence, and it helps us. I think that every great team must start at the back, and in Pepe we have the best."