Former Liverpool midfielder John Barnes believes Robbie Keane's days at Anfield are numbered.
Keane has failed to make any impact following his £20million move from Tottenham last summer and was left out of Rafael Benitez's squad for the FA Cup game against Everton last Sunday.
The Republic of Ireland international has struggled to find the form which saw him become one of the best forwards in the Premier League with Tottenham.
Keane was left out of the team once again for the 1-1 draw against Wigan on Wednesday night and Barnes cannot see how he will fit into the team alongside Fernando Torres while Benitez is in charge.
Barnes, a pundit for footballpools.com, said: "Robbie is struggling to find a place. Whatever the reason, it's plain to see the move hasn't worked out for either the player or club.
"We can only speculate but there is obviously a problem there as to why he hasn't made the impact we all expected him to.
"I'm as surprised as to why he's struggled. It may well be a case that the player hasn't quite managed to integrate into Liverpool's pattern of play and doesn't suit the tactical style that Rafa Benitez's team operates."
Barnes, who made more than 400 appearances for the Merseyside club, refuses to criticise Benitez over paying so much money for a player who cannot get into the team.
Barnes added: "Every club has signed good quality players that haven't proven to be a success for one reason or another.
"It doesn't necessarily mean the manager made a mistake. Take Sir Alex Fereguson signing Diego Forlan and Juan Sebastian Veron. Were they bad players before he signed them? No. Sometimes transfers unfortunately just don't work out."
Keane has failed to make any impact following his £20million move from Tottenham last summer and was left out of Rafael Benitez's squad for the FA Cup game against Everton last Sunday.
The Republic of Ireland international has struggled to find the form which saw him become one of the best forwards in the Premier League with Tottenham.
Keane was left out of the team once again for the 1-1 draw against Wigan on Wednesday night and Barnes cannot see how he will fit into the team alongside Fernando Torres while Benitez is in charge.
Barnes, a pundit for footballpools.com, said: "Robbie is struggling to find a place. Whatever the reason, it's plain to see the move hasn't worked out for either the player or club.
"We can only speculate but there is obviously a problem there as to why he hasn't made the impact we all expected him to.
"I'm as surprised as to why he's struggled. It may well be a case that the player hasn't quite managed to integrate into Liverpool's pattern of play and doesn't suit the tactical style that Rafa Benitez's team operates."
Barnes, who made more than 400 appearances for the Merseyside club, refuses to criticise Benitez over paying so much money for a player who cannot get into the team.
Barnes added: "Every club has signed good quality players that haven't proven to be a success for one reason or another.
"It doesn't necessarily mean the manager made a mistake. Take Sir Alex Fereguson signing Diego Forlan and Juan Sebastian Veron. Were they bad players before he signed them? No. Sometimes transfers unfortunately just don't work out."
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