Liverpool forward Ryan Babel has caused manager Rafael Benitez a few problems over the last couple of months but he may just provide him with an unexpected solution as the race for Champions League qualification hots up.
The Holland international was linked with a move in the January transfer window when the club turned down a £9million bid from Birmingham but the player appeared to be doing his best to manufacture an exit.
A series of ill-advised outbursts on Twitter - one in which, more than 24 hours before kick-off, he revealed he had been left out of the squad for the match at Stoke - resulted in a severe dressing down from the manager.
Since then he has been restricted to only 71 minutes' pitch time in four substitute appearances but it seems the 23-year-old may be about to turn yet another corner in a disappointing career at Anfield.
He looked dangerous when he came off the bench in last week's defeat at Arsenal, where he was denied an equaliser only by Manuel Almunia's fingertip save onto the crossbar.
And he was Liverpool's biggest threat by far during a 27-minute Europa League run-out in which he set up the only goal for David Ngog against Unirea Urziceni on Thursday.
Benitez has seen a change in Babel's attitude and is hopeful the improvement continues.
"He was doing well in training sessions. He wants to impress now and you could see he was a threat from the beginning," said the Spaniard.
"Babel's fresh legs with pace was a different approach and it was good for us. I was really pleased with him."
Whether Benitez has the confidence to select the temperamental forward for Sunday's crucial Barclays Premier League clash at fourth-placed Manchester City is open to debate.
Babel has not started a match since November 21 - coincidentally in the 2-2 draw against City - and his inconsistent form means the Reds boss is more likely to go with a player like Fabio Aurelio who offers him more stability.
With City one point ahead with a match in hand, it is imperative Liverpool do not lose.
The Holland international was linked with a move in the January transfer window when the club turned down a £9million bid from Birmingham but the player appeared to be doing his best to manufacture an exit.
A series of ill-advised outbursts on Twitter - one in which, more than 24 hours before kick-off, he revealed he had been left out of the squad for the match at Stoke - resulted in a severe dressing down from the manager.
Since then he has been restricted to only 71 minutes' pitch time in four substitute appearances but it seems the 23-year-old may be about to turn yet another corner in a disappointing career at Anfield.
He looked dangerous when he came off the bench in last week's defeat at Arsenal, where he was denied an equaliser only by Manuel Almunia's fingertip save onto the crossbar.
And he was Liverpool's biggest threat by far during a 27-minute Europa League run-out in which he set up the only goal for David Ngog against Unirea Urziceni on Thursday.
Benitez has seen a change in Babel's attitude and is hopeful the improvement continues.
"He was doing well in training sessions. He wants to impress now and you could see he was a threat from the beginning," said the Spaniard.
"Babel's fresh legs with pace was a different approach and it was good for us. I was really pleased with him."
Whether Benitez has the confidence to select the temperamental forward for Sunday's crucial Barclays Premier League clash at fourth-placed Manchester City is open to debate.
Babel has not started a match since November 21 - coincidentally in the 2-2 draw against City - and his inconsistent form means the Reds boss is more likely to go with a player like Fabio Aurelio who offers him more stability.
With City one point ahead with a match in hand, it is imperative Liverpool do not lose.
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