Liverpool's title surge is down to selling Robbie Keane back to
Tottenham, says former Arsenal defender Martin Keown.
Keown, now a pundit on Match of the Day 2, told the Evening
Standard: "Keane remains a top-class forward but it can be no
coincidence that since his departure, the Reds have found their
best form - with Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres fit and at the
fulcrum of the revival.
"No matter what Keane's contribution was in any match following
his £ 20.3million move from Tottenham, he was always the talking
point. Rafa Benitez had to field endless questions about the
Irishman and it was draining for the manager and player, who both
deserved better.
"Keane was bought [for £20.3million] to play off Torres, but
Gerrard was consequently pushed back into midfield which only
stunted the effectiveness of their captain and contributed to a
lack of fluidity. But Benitez's best team is now obvious.
"Rafa's 4-2-3-1, with Gerrard pushed further forward behind Torres,
is now a devastating system that maximises everything from the
players he has at his disposal - as was demonstrated by the England
player's superb hat-trick yesterday against Aston Villa."