Robbie Keane told by Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez to start delivering
RAFAEL BENITEZ has issued Robbie Keane a thinly-veiled warning to start delivering for Liverpool - while hinting the striker could be dropped this afternoon.
The Republic of Ireland international has under-whelmed at Anfield following his much-vaunted £19.6million move from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.
Keane has scored only four goals this season and was substituted for the 15th time in 18 starts on Monday following another disappointing performance in the goalless draw at home to West Ham United.
Benitez has been keen to give the 29-year-old the same public backing that was offered to a similarly struggling Peter Crouch three years ago, with Keane having appeared in 22 of Liverpool's 24 games this season.
However, the Liverpool manager, who earlier this week admitted the striker has not yet demonstrated his true worth, yesterday declared no player had a guaranteed place in the starting line-up.
And the clear inference is that, despite the absence of the injured Fernando Torres, Keane will now be taken out of the firing line for today's Premier League trip to Blackburn Rovers.
"Robbie is working hard in training as always," said Benitez. "The best way to support him is by talking about how he can improve.
"We have to analyse everything because we have to think about him and the team. There are six months of the season left so I can pick him lots of times, but I cannot guarantee a position to anyone.
"We can talk about players costing £15m-£20m at other teams and they are on the bench every week, but people are not talking about them. We have two players in our squad of this value so people talk about them.
"For me, it is not a question of the price-tag of the player, he is just another player. I think that he is working hard, he has a good mentality and he has enough confidence in himself.
"After that we have to decide about team selection because we want to win every game and we have to pick the best players for each game."
Benitez added: "Keane is a normal player, another player. As a player you have to work hard and try and do the things we are practising in training.
"But again I would say we cannot guarantee a position to anyone. We have to win.
"He is in the same situation as the rest of the players. He has played 22 games out of 24, 18 games he has started. Can I guarantee the position of Agger, Hyypia, Aurelio, Dossena, Carragher? No. The players have to play the best that they can every week and then afterwards you decide.
"We have enough quality in attack to manage with the players that we have, so hopefully if we can create good chances and clear chances the strikers will score. If not, then we have to score from other areas on the pitch."
Should Keane be benched, it could pave the way for a recall for Ryan Babel in attack. But Torres remains sidelined along with Fabio Aurelio (calf), Martin Skrtel (knee) and Philipp Degen (foot).
Meanwhile, Benitez has admitted there has been no recent progress in talks over his proposed new contract.
The Spaniard, who has 18 months remaining on his current deal, wanted to end constant speculation over his long-term future by putting pen to paper before the end of last month.
But with that date having passed, the Liverpool manager is refusing to put a timescale on negotiations.
"My advisors are in contact with the club and that's it," said Benitez. "I would like to concentrate on football because they are doing their job.
"My advisors are talking with the club and that, to me, seems positive."
Asked if there was any conclusion in sight, Benitez responded: "No. It has to be sooner rather than later. But we have an important game tomorrow."
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