Rafa Benitez has told striker Andriy Voronin that he will be given the chance to fight for his Liverpool future.
The 29-year-old Ukraine international moved to England two years ago but had a difficult start to life at Anfield, leading to a loan spell at Hertha Berlin last season.
However, he regained his form in the Bundesliga with 11 goals in 21 league games and, while it is believed that Benitez would still be willing to cash in on the player, he has vowed to give Voronin the chance to prove himself.
"He did really well in Germany last season, scoring plenty of goals, and he has told me that he wants to stay at the club and fight for his position," he said.
"I have told him that will be difficult with Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard as our first-choice strikers, but he realises this and the players we have in the squad.
"But he also knows that this club always plays more than 60 games a season and that means there are opportunities.
"He will fight for his place."
He added: "At this moment, he is a Liverpool player, but it depends on him.
"He is continuing to work hard and is playing well, so he will have a chance.
"It is good to have him back.
"When we signed him, we were looking for a player who could play between the lines as a second striker with quality.
"He has game intelligence, which is something we are always looking for."
Voronin featured for Liverpool in their pre-season friendly against St Gallen on Wednesday, which finished 0-0.
The 29-year-old Ukraine international moved to England two years ago but had a difficult start to life at Anfield, leading to a loan spell at Hertha Berlin last season.
However, he regained his form in the Bundesliga with 11 goals in 21 league games and, while it is believed that Benitez would still be willing to cash in on the player, he has vowed to give Voronin the chance to prove himself.
"He did really well in Germany last season, scoring plenty of goals, and he has told me that he wants to stay at the club and fight for his position," he said.
"I have told him that will be difficult with Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard as our first-choice strikers, but he realises this and the players we have in the squad.
"But he also knows that this club always plays more than 60 games a season and that means there are opportunities.
"He will fight for his place."
He added: "At this moment, he is a Liverpool player, but it depends on him.
"He is continuing to work hard and is playing well, so he will have a chance.
"It is good to have him back.
"When we signed him, we were looking for a player who could play between the lines as a second striker with quality.
"He has game intelligence, which is something we are always looking for."
Voronin featured for Liverpool in their pre-season friendly against St Gallen on Wednesday, which finished 0-0.
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