[lfc-news] Crouch key to goals - Echo

LIverpool Echo, 1 Aug 2005
Crouch key to goals
By Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

RAFA BENITEZ today backed Peter Crouch to bring out the best in the
Liverpool midfield.

The Reds boss believes the addition of the £7m frontman will increase
the goalscoring output of the likes of Steven Gerrard, Luis Garcia and
Bolo Zenden.

And Benitez says he is looking forward to seeing Crouch in action at
Anfield for the first time when Liverpool take on FC Kaunas in the
second leg of their Champions League qualifier tomorrow night.

He said: "Peter has been training well and he has played well in the
games he has been involved in. I am very happy with him.

"The fans will see that Peter will bring something different to the way
we play.

"When the ball is played up to him he is able to hold on to it and lay
it off into the path of players making a run forward.

"This will help our midfield and give them the confidence to go forward.

"But I am also confident that Peter will score goals because he has
already proven he is a goalscorer in the Premiership."

Crouch is in line to make his Anfield debut against Kaunas, but one
striker who won't figure is Milan Baros, who is likely to see his
Liverpool career brought to a close in the coming days.

Liverpool remain adamant the Czech striker will not be allowed to leave
for anything less than their asking price and will certainly not move on
a season-long loan, despite German side Schalke saying they would like
to take Baros on a temporary basis with a view to a permanent move.

Schalke have agreed personal terms with Baros but are yet to come to an
agreement with Liverpool, who value the striker at £7m.

The Bundesliga outfit are in the driving seat in the race to sign Baros,
though, with the forward believed to be keen to try his luck away from
the Premiership despite the continued interest of Aston Villa and West Ham.

Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick is confident of capturing Baros and said:
"We have agreed things with Baros and his agent. He wants to come to us."

The impending departure of Baros could force Liverpool into making a
decision on whether or not to bring Michael Owen back to Anfield.

Madrid have privately indicated to Owen that they are willing to allow
him to leave on loan for a season and, with Liverpool having first
option on the striker, they could still make a move for him.

Benitez already has Crouch, Djibril Cisse, Fernando Morientes and Luis
Garcia as attacking options, plus the injured Harry Kewell, Neil Mellor
and Florent Sinama-Pongolle to return. He is thought to be reluctant to
spend £11m on a player who left the club for a knockdown £8m just 12
months ago - but a loan deal would suit all parties.

* Liverpool have been drawn to play either Sydney FC or Deportivo
Saprissa in the FIFA Club World Championship in December.

The Reds have been seeded and will join the competition at the
semi-final stage, along with Sao Paolo, of Brazil.

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