RAFAEL BENITEZ has revealed that he has no plans to shake up his forward line in the January transfer window.
The Liverpool manager says he is happy with his current quartet and feels they are all capable of carrying his team through their heavy workload in the second half of the campaign.
Peter Crouch has been the subject of most speculation as he has been sat in the shadows of the flourishing Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt partnership during December, in which Liverpool have scored 11 goals in their three Premiership victories.
Newcastle have been strongly suggested as likely bidders for Crouch still Liverpool's top scorer with nine goals but without a start in the Premiership since the November 29 home clash with Portsmouth.
But with tomorrow's visit of Watford to Anfield kicking off the hectic festive period, Benitez is insistent that Crouch is as vital to his plans to keep as many players as fresh as possible for the frantic fixture schedule ahead.
Benitez said: "I am happy with the strikers because when we were playing with Kuyt and Crouch and we were winning five games in a row, people said the understanding between them was really good, and now it's good between Bellamy and Kuyt.
"Robbie Fowler also is a very clever player so we have four strikers who are ready to play a lot of games.
"Now we have four games in a few days and after that we play two games in three days against Arsenal, then we have the Champions League - all the players need to keep going and need to be ready."
On the suggestion he might look to recoup the cash he laid out for Crouch when he bought him for £7million in the summer of 2005, Benitez responded: "We are not considering anything about this. Why do we need to consider this?
"I am happy with him and we need four strikers. We are in four competitions and I need to keep all my strikers.
"At this moment I am happy with them. As a top side we need to look for good players in the market, but at this moment it is not a priority."
After Watford depart Anfield, Liverpool face two tough post-Christmas trips, to Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day and at Tottenham a week on Saturday
There's barely time to see in the New Year after that with the lunchtime kick-off against Bolton Wanderers on January 1, then the FA Cup and Carling Cup double header with Arsenal hot on the heels the following week.
But it's the strain this puts on the faster, more forward-minded players that Benitez is concerned about when making sure he has his full quartet of strikers ready to take to the field.
"With the rotation policyall the players must be ready," he added.
"And if you need to play two games in a few days, Crouch and the strikers especially need to change places.
"The strikers and the wingers are running more distance and faster than the others. Normally they can play two games in a row in a few days but if you have another option maybe the other one is a little bit fitter. Why use a player who is tired when the other one who is as good as him can play 100%?"
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I believe Rafa will stick to the same 4 strikers, but Robbie will certainly be gone come July. I think his replacement will be from the Bundesliga.
The Crow.
The Liverpool manager says he is happy with his current quartet and feels they are all capable of carrying his team through their heavy workload in the second half of the campaign.
Peter Crouch has been the subject of most speculation as he has been sat in the shadows of the flourishing Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt partnership during December, in which Liverpool have scored 11 goals in their three Premiership victories.
Newcastle have been strongly suggested as likely bidders for Crouch still Liverpool's top scorer with nine goals but without a start in the Premiership since the November 29 home clash with Portsmouth.
But with tomorrow's visit of Watford to Anfield kicking off the hectic festive period, Benitez is insistent that Crouch is as vital to his plans to keep as many players as fresh as possible for the frantic fixture schedule ahead.
Benitez said: "I am happy with the strikers because when we were playing with Kuyt and Crouch and we were winning five games in a row, people said the understanding between them was really good, and now it's good between Bellamy and Kuyt.
"Robbie Fowler also is a very clever player so we have four strikers who are ready to play a lot of games.
"Now we have four games in a few days and after that we play two games in three days against Arsenal, then we have the Champions League - all the players need to keep going and need to be ready."
On the suggestion he might look to recoup the cash he laid out for Crouch when he bought him for £7million in the summer of 2005, Benitez responded: "We are not considering anything about this. Why do we need to consider this?
"I am happy with him and we need four strikers. We are in four competitions and I need to keep all my strikers.
"At this moment I am happy with them. As a top side we need to look for good players in the market, but at this moment it is not a priority."
After Watford depart Anfield, Liverpool face two tough post-Christmas trips, to Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day and at Tottenham a week on Saturday
There's barely time to see in the New Year after that with the lunchtime kick-off against Bolton Wanderers on January 1, then the FA Cup and Carling Cup double header with Arsenal hot on the heels the following week.
But it's the strain this puts on the faster, more forward-minded players that Benitez is concerned about when making sure he has his full quartet of strikers ready to take to the field.
"With the rotation policyall the players must be ready," he added.
"And if you need to play two games in a few days, Crouch and the strikers especially need to change places.
"The strikers and the wingers are running more distance and faster than the others. Normally they can play two games in a row in a few days but if you have another option maybe the other one is a little bit fitter. Why use a player who is tired when the other one who is as good as him can play 100%?"
-----------------------
I believe Rafa will stick to the same 4 strikers, but Robbie will certainly be gone come July. I think his replacement will be from the Bundesliga.
The Crow.
Bring Back Pako
Oh dear
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