Uefa Champions League Group D - PSV Eindhoven v Liverpool: (Philips Stadion KO: 7.45pm/Setanta Ireland/ITV 4) RAFAEL BENITEZ cut Robbie Keane from his plans at Blackburn Rovers but he is not ready to cut his losses.
The Spaniard has reassured the €30 million striker that his future lies with Liverpool ahead of tonight's Champions League game at PSV Eindhoven, although where the Republic of Ireland captain stands in his manager's affections remains open to doubt.
Keane is expected to exchange an unused substitute's role at Ewood Park on Saturday for the Liverpool starting line-up at the Philips Stadion, where an intense spotlight is guaranteed on the 28-year-old irrespective of the electronic company's investment in the arena.
Liverpool have secured their place in the knock-out phase for the fourth time in four years under Benitez and, but for the debatable merits of winning Group D above Atletico Madrid, their final group game in Eindhoven is an irrelevant distraction. Not so for Keane.
Liverpool's showcase summer signing has just four goals to his credit this season, with two in this competition and two against West Bromwich Albion in the league. He is struggling for form, confidence and, after 22 appearances for the team he supported as a boy, an understanding of his role in Benitez's system and the qualities of those around him.
To cap off a miserable weekend, the demotion at Blackburn was followed by speculation Harry Redknapp may attempt to re-sign him for Tottenham in January, six months after his acrimonious departure from White Hart Lane.
"We don't want to sell Robbie. I was surprised when someone told me about the rumours," insisted Benitez. "We are not thinking about selling. Always at the beginning it is not easy, and when someone moves to a top side it is more difficult. But he has quality, he is working hard and so it is not a problem.
"For me the key is if the team is playing well. If the team plays well, he will have more chances and he will score more goals."
Keane's return against PSV owes as much to the absent Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt, as Benitez's desire to use his resources with qualification assured. And, despite his words of support, the Liverpool manager admits he is expecting more from a player he has substituted 15 times.
"I think he knows we have confidence in him, but he knows also he is not playing at his level. You cannot give a player with his experience too many messages. He knows he has to perform well and he will be there."
As for his own situation at Anfield, the Liverpool manager has vehemently denied reports that the hold-up over his contract extension is due to his exorbitant financial demands on co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.
Reaffirming that the main sticking point is the length of his next contract, Benitez said: "I was surprised to read that I was demanding more money. That is not true. I told my agent when he went into the talks to not talk about money. The question was about the length of the contract and about my role. The last question was about money."
The Liverpool manager will rest key players where his Champions League squad list allows tonight, with the exclusion of Sami Hyypia and Emiliano Insua, who started at left back on Saturday, meaning Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger are unlikely to get the evening off. Javier Mascherano's recovery from a dead leg will influence whether Xabi Alonso, who appeared tired against Blackburn, starts.
"I left Xabi out against Fulham for this reason and everyone says, 'why has he done that?' " said Benitez. "If you win everyone will say fantastic and if you don't then people talk. But clearly we have to rest some players because we have qualified and the priority now is the Premier League."
A better result than Atletico achieve in Marseille, or a scoreline that overturns their one-goal deficit on the Spaniards, will ensure Liverpool meet a second-placed team in next week's draw for the first knock-out round.
"To finish first is better because you will play at Anfield in the second leg. Otherwise, there is no advantage. Look at the teams you could get, Juventus or Real Madrid for example."
GuardianService
