Rafa planning to keep Crouch
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Rafa Benitez has pledged to keep England international Peter Crouch at Liverpool over the summer.
The Spaniard has reportedly been given a £40million transfer war chest by the club's new owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, and as a result a number of comings and goings could be witnessed at Anfield during pre-season.
Crouch was linked with a January move to Newcastle and the prospective arrival of Andrei Voronin on a free transfer from Bayer Leverkusen will also strengthen the competition for attacking places with The Reds.
However, Crouch underlined his value to the team by scoring a hat-trick against Arsenal last weekend and then netting against PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League, and Benitez insists the gangly striker will remain on Merseyside.
"I am really pleased with Peter Crouch and I am not selling him," said Benitez in the Sunday newspaper.
"All players have moments when they suddenly realise what they have to be doing and how to achieve things in their game and this has happened with Peter."
The Reds are also looking to secure the long-term future of midfield maestro Xabi Alonso as the Spanish international has been linked with a return to his homeland in recent months.
Benitez has instructed Hicks and Gillett that tying Alonso to a new deal is paramount in his plans, and the player admits he will be receptive to talks should they begin soon.
"I am focused on some big games and I am in no rush," said Alonso. "But if they want to talk to me now then I will listen." -
Bu ji bu jue, Xabi Alonso is as important to Liverpool as Stevie G and Carragher.
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yeah crouch is impt to us
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if there's any striker leaving. it shouldnt be crouch. it should be bellamy or fowler