Crouch key to goals
Aug 1 2005
By Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo
RAFA BENITEZ today backed Peter Crouch to bring out the best in the Liverpool midfield.
The Reds boss believes the addition of the £7m frontman will increase the goalscoring output of the likes of Steven Gerrard, Luis Garcia and Bolo Zenden.
And Benitez says he is looking forward to seeing Crouch in action at Anfield for the first time when Liverpool take on FC Kaunas in the second leg of their Champions League qualifier tomorrow night.
He said: "Peter has been training well and he has played well in the games he has been involved in. I am very happy with him.
"The fans will see that Peter will bring something different to the way we play.
"When the ball is played up to him he is able to hold on to it and lay it off into the path of players making a run forward.
"This will help our midfield and give them the confidence to go forward.
"But I am also confident that Peter will score goals because he has already proven he is a goalscorer in the Premiership."
Crouch is in line to make his Anfield debut against Kaunas, but one striker who won't figure is Milan Baros, who is likely to see his Liverpool career brought to a close in the coming days.
Liverpool remain adamant the Czech striker will not be allowed to leave for anything less than their asking price and will certainly not move on a season-long loan, despite German side Schalke saying they would like to take Baros on a temporary basis with a view to a permanent move.
Schalke have agreed personal terms with Baros but are yet to come to an agreement with Liverpool, who value the striker at £7m.
The Bundesliga outfit are in the driving seat in the race to sign Baros, though, with the forward believed to be keen to try his luck away from the Premiership despite the continued interest of Aston Villa and West Ham.
Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick is confident of capturing Baros and said: "We have agreed things with Baros and his agent. He wants to come to us."
The impending departure of Baros could force Liverpool into making a decision on whether or not to bring Michael Owen back to Anfield.
Madrid have privately indicated to Owen that they are willing to allow him to leave on loan for a season and, with Liverpool having first option on the striker, they could still make a move for him.
Benitez already has Crouch, Djibril Cisse, Fernando Morientes and Luis Garcia as attacking options, plus the injured Harry Kewell, Neil Mellor and Florent Sinama-Pongolle to return. He is thought to be reluctant to spend £11m on a player who left the club for a knockdown £8m just 12 months ago - but a loan deal would suit all parties.
* Liverpool have been drawn to play either Sydney FC or Deportivo Saprissa in the FIFA Club World Championship in December.
The Reds have been seeded and will join the competition at the semi-final stage, along with Sao Paolo, of Brazil
