Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insists he will not sell misfiring striker Robbie Keane but admits "he is not playing at his level".
After being dropped for the game at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, Keane will be handed the responsibility of scoring the goals on Tuesday night which ensure the club's concluding Champions League group fixture ends in victory over PSV Eindhoven, hopefully giving them top spot in the group.
With Fernando Torres out with a hamstring injury and Dirk Kuyt also missing the flight to his native Holland with a similar problem, Benitez has little choice but to bring Keane back into the fold after the £20.3 million signing spent the entire 90 minutes at Ewood Park on the bench.
Benitez has told Tottenham, who are interested in bringing their former striker back to White Hart Lane, that he has no desire to sell the player, although Keane will be well aware that the Spaniard is not known for his patience when it comes to misfiring forwards.
Craig Bellamy, after an underwhelming campaign, lasted just 12 months before being sold to West Ham; Fernando Morientes left for Valencia within a couple of years of being signed by his compatriot, and Djibril Cisse was allowed to join Marseille, although Gerard Houllier had bought him shortly before Benitez took charge.
However, Benitez continues to back Keane, 28, despite his meagre return of two goals in 15 Premier League appearances. Keane also came in for criticism from some fans at a charity dinner attended by Benitez last week.
"We don't want to sell Robbie," insists Benitez, who is set to give keeper Diego Cavalieri a rare start.
"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.
"People talk about the fact he didn't play at Blackburn, but we were playing with Kuyt, who is a striker, and [Ryan] Babel, who is a striker on the left side.
"Carlos Tevez scored four goals last week for Manchester United and he didn't start the match against Sunderland, but there isn't the same debate. Why?
"Always at the beginning it is not easy and when someone moves to a top side it is more difficult, but Robbie has quality, he is working hard, so it is not a problem.
"For me the key is the team playing well. If the team plays well, he will have more chances and he will score more goals. I think all the players want to play, so he will be disappointed. He will be thinking, 'I want to play, I need to play'."
After being dropped for the game at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, Keane will be handed the responsibility of scoring the goals on Tuesday night which ensure the club's concluding Champions League group fixture ends in victory over PSV Eindhoven, hopefully giving them top spot in the group.
With Fernando Torres out with a hamstring injury and Dirk Kuyt also missing the flight to his native Holland with a similar problem, Benitez has little choice but to bring Keane back into the fold after the £20.3 million signing spent the entire 90 minutes at Ewood Park on the bench.
Benitez has told Tottenham, who are interested in bringing their former striker back to White Hart Lane, that he has no desire to sell the player, although Keane will be well aware that the Spaniard is not known for his patience when it comes to misfiring forwards.
Craig Bellamy, after an underwhelming campaign, lasted just 12 months before being sold to West Ham; Fernando Morientes left for Valencia within a couple of years of being signed by his compatriot, and Djibril Cisse was allowed to join Marseille, although Gerard Houllier had bought him shortly before Benitez took charge.
However, Benitez continues to back Keane, 28, despite his meagre return of two goals in 15 Premier League appearances. Keane also came in for criticism from some fans at a charity dinner attended by Benitez last week.
"We don't want to sell Robbie," insists Benitez, who is set to give keeper Diego Cavalieri a rare start.
"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.
"People talk about the fact he didn't play at Blackburn, but we were playing with Kuyt, who is a striker, and [Ryan] Babel, who is a striker on the left side.
"Carlos Tevez scored four goals last week for Manchester United and he didn't start the match against Sunderland, but there isn't the same debate. Why?
"Always at the beginning it is not easy and when someone moves to a top side it is more difficult, but Robbie has quality, he is working hard, so it is not a problem.
"For me the key is the team playing well. If the team plays well, he will have more chances and he will score more goals. I think all the players want to play, so he will be disappointed. He will be thinking, 'I want to play, I need to play'."
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