Espanyol 3-0 Liverpool: Rafa Benitez pleads with Xabi Alonso to stay at Anfield

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez last night insisted he wants Xabi Alonso to remain at Anfield.

Real Madrid are still desperate to sign the midfielder - who is keen on a move to the Bernabeu.

But after seeing Alonso come off the bench in Liverpool's friendly defeat, Benitez said: "He is our player and we want him to stay.'' Former Chelsea forward Ben Sahar scored twice, with Luis Garcia also netting, against a strong Liverpool team, captained by Steven Gerrard.

Alonso started as a sub but came on for the closing minutes and it remains unclear whether he will start the season at Anfield.

Benitez brushed off the setback of losing in a match which was set up to officially open Espanyol's new stadium.

"Nobody likes losing like that, but it's pre-season so it doesn't matter. I'm not worried about it,'' he said. Asked if Javier Mascherano, who has been linked with Barcelona, will leave, Benitez said: "No.'' But the Anfield boss looks like losing out on David Villa, whom he wants as the perfect partner for countryman Fernando Torres.

Valencia manager Unai Emeryhas labelled Villa "priceless" and insists he is going nowhere.

Liverpool have been strongly linked with a move for the Spain striker, 26.

Villa has already turned down moves to Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid this summer while Manchester United have also declared an interest. But Liverpool reckon Torres can persuade his deadly Euro 2008 strike partner Villa to move.

After sitting out Valencia's comfortable 2-0 victory over Cardiff City on Saturday, Villa is expected to make his first pre-season appearance in a friendly against Sir Alex Ferguson's side on Wednesday.

Emery said: "Valencia want to keep David but he also wants to stay. We don't want to sell him because he is priceless.''