Rafael Benitez appears to be running out of patience with £20.3 million striker Robbie Keane and has confirmed he cannot guarantee the Irishman a place in his starting lineup.
Keane joined the Reds from Tottenham Hotspur over the summer but has struggled for goals since arriving at Anfield and has managed only two in the Premier League so far this season.
The former Spurs man has also found himself repeatedly substituted by his manager and his disbelief at finding himself replaced again during Liverpool’s goalless draw with West Ham United on Monday night was evident.
However, according to his manager Keane may need to get used to watching from the sidelines as Benitez confirmed his striker was not an automatic first team choice.
According to The Guardian, the Liverpool manager said: “He is working hard as always in training and practicing in every training session but I cannot guarantee a position to anyone, we have to win.”
Benitez’s side face Blackburn Rovers today and Keane is expected to start the game from the bench, with the Reds’ boss clearly growing frustrated with the situation.
“He is in the same situation as the rest of the players. We can talk about 10 or 15 players who cost more than £20m in other teams, and you can see two or three of them on the bench every week and people don’t talk about them all the time,” snapped the Spaniard, “But for me, it’s not a question of the value of the player. To me he’s just another player and that’s it.”
Despite Keane’s lack of goals, the Reds still top the Premier League table, and Benitez appears confident his striker can improve as the season progresses. He explained: “The best way to support him is to talk about what he can improve and what he can do.”
With Fernando Torres out injured, Liverpool must look elsewhere for goals and with Keane misfiring, Benitez is believed to be considering turning to Dirk Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun for today’s encounter.
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