Nevermind Gareth Barry, Liverpool should worry about Robbie Keane

Sep 1 2008

Liverpool board's refusal to spend £18million on Gareth Barry almost sent Anfield into meltdown this summer.

But it is Rafa Benitez's decision to pay £20m for Robbie Keane which may prove even more controversial.

England midfielder Barry, 27, was the centre of attention yesterday as Villa and Liverpool met for the first time since spending four months squabbling over his services.

Benitez and Villa boss Martin O'Neill shook hands before and after the game - and the script seemed set for Barry to score the winner. But it was Liverpool's big-money summer buy Keane who had the best chance to end the stalemate.

Despite growing up a Liverpool fan in Dublin and sealing a dream switch to Anfield this summer, Keane's start to life at his new team has been anything but a fairy tale.

At a club where transatlantic cash worries have seen Liverpool's plans for a huge new stadium mothballed, the decision to pay Spurs £20m for Keane looks increasingly rash.

His partnership with Fernando Torres is definitely yet to click. Yesterday Keane failed to fire Liverpool to victory when Torres hobbled off in the first half with a hamstring injury, which could make him a doubt for the Manchester United game on Saturday week.

And after five games for his new club, Keane is yet to find the back of the net.

He could not have wished for a better chance as he sprinted clear of the Villa defence in the 73rd minute but fluffed a right-foot shot after being put off by Nigel Reo-Coker.

With it went Liverpool's best hopes of victory and the striker was subbed soon after to chants of "what a waste of money" from home fans. And if Keane does not adjust to life at Liverpool soon and start scoring, then he is in grave danger of becoming the club's most expensive flop.

Boss Benitez has given Keane the No.7 shirt following Harry Kewell's departure this summer to Galatasaray and Liverpool fans were delighted to see the injury-prone Australian go.

But unless Keane starts delivering, then he could soon find himself replacing Kewell as the butt of supporters' jokes on Merseyside.

This was a tame contest which did not live up to its billing as a grudge match between Benitez and O'Neill.

Liverpool had to wait until the 20th minute for their first shot when midfielder Lucas smashed a long-range effort well over the bar.

And the visitors, already missing crocked talisman Steven Gerrard, suffered another huge blow when last season's 33-goal hero Torres hobbled off.

In the second half, Xabi Alonso, who was set to be offloaded had Barry joined, had a shot deflected just wide by Nicky Shorey.

But Villa, attacking the Holte End, tried to up the tempo as their Bulgarian midfielder Stiliyan Petrov smashed a right-foot volley wide from a poor clearance.

Yet it was Liverpool who should have taken the lead in the 73rd minute with the game's first clear - cut chance.

Martin Laursen's clearing header was knocked back into the Villa half over the Dane's head, sending Keane free through the middle but the Republic of Ireland international scuffed a rightfoot shot.

And it was virtually Keane's last action of the game as he was promptly subbed with 11 minutes remaining.

Villa then ended on top as record signing James Milner, introduced from the bench, fired in a right-foot shot before the impressive Jamie Carragher needed to clear team-mate Fabio Aurelio's header off their own line.

But Villa's hopes of a first Premier League win over Liverpool since 1998 never looked like being fulfilled despite an exciting finale.

Villa: Friedel 6, L Young 6 (Milner 65, 6), Laursen 7, Davies 7, Shorey 6 (Gardner 79, 6), Reo-Coker 8, Petrov 7, Barry 7, A Young 7, Carew 6, Agbonlahor 6.

Liverpool: Reina 6, Arbeloa 8, Carragher 8, Skrtel 7, Dossena 6, Kuyt 6 (Aurelio, 70, 6), Alonso 7, Mascherano 8, Lucas 5, Keane 5 (Benayoun 70, 6), Torres 6 (Ngog 30, 6) Att: 41,647 Ref: Martin Atkinson