Robbie Keane teamed up with Fernando Torres at
Liverpool and immediately
warned Manchester United
manager Sir Alex Ferguson: 'It's time we took our title back.' The
lifelong Liverpool fan admits he is too young to remember the
club's last championship triumph in 1990, but Keane is convinced
his new strike partnership with Torres can break United's grip on
the Barclays Premier League.
After completing his £19million move from Tottenham, Keane said:
'Now I've fulfilled my dream of joining the club, I believe we can
seriously challenge for the title. 'My older brothers and the rest
of the family are mad-keen Liverpool fans and always talk about the
great days of the past. I hope I can be part of the team who
finally win the League again.
'Liverpool have to challenge for the title - the fans expect it.
At this stage of my career I want that chance to win more trophies
and medals.' Keane, 28, will play in Wednesday night's prestige
friendly against Villarreal in Spain, although Torres is expected
to get only a brief run-out.
Keane is confident of striking up the kind of relationship with
Torres he enjoyed with Dimitar Berbatov at Spurs, 'Dimitar and I
had a great understanding - hopefully I can do the same with
Torres,' said Keane. 'Fernando has been a revelation in the Premier
League - he's probably the best striker in the world.'
Benitez is sure he has finally found the missing link in Keane.
The manager said: 'If you want to be at the top of the table and
fighting for trophies, you need good players and big names. 'Robbie
is a very good player, a clever player. He can play on the right,
as a central striker or in a deeper position. When you know you're
very close sometimes you need a bit more quality and experience.
Last season we had a lot of draws and maybe with more experience we
could have won those games.'
Despite Spurs' anger over his departure, Keane said he could not
turn down a second chance to join Liverpool more than a decade
after opting for Wolves instead when he left Dublin junior side
Crumlin United. And he appreciates as much as anyone the
significance of being given the red No 7 shirt made famous by Kevin
Keegan and Kenny Dalglish.
'The No 7 jersey is massive,' said Keane. 'If I do half the job
Keegan and Dalglish did at Liverpool I'll be happy. 'I always hoped
I would get the chance again and I'm looking forward to putting
that red jersey on. Playing Champions League football is important
for me, but it's the whole package here.
'Back home in Dublin all us kids ever wanted were Liverpool
tracksuits and jerseys at Christmas. Now I can get them for free at
last!'