AXED ... striker Robbie Keane
Steven Gerrard hit Liverpool’s leveller in a 1-1 FA Cup
fourth round draw. And boss Rafa Benitez said: “We have a good
squad and Keane was not selected.
"I have not seen him so I don’t know how he has
reacted. But every player wants to be involved so I would expect he
is not happy. “Ngog scored twice for the reserves in their last
match, so he was a good option. And we have Ryan Babel and Lucas
who can play forward, so we were well covered.”
Keane has managed only seven goals since his summer
move from Tottenham. He has been substituted in all but one of his
16 Premier League starts and was hauled off yet again in the second
half of last Monday’s 1-1 league draw against rivals Everton after
another dismal display.
It looks like Benitez’s patience is running thin,
although he did offer Keane a crumb of consolation. Benitez added:
“He’s working hard and, for me, the most important thing is if the
players work hard for the team.”