Hatchet man: Stay-away Keane could have sealed his Anfield exit

26 January 2009 10:20
Familiar sight: Keane takes his place on the bench, but he was denied even that consolation on Sunday Rafa Benitez may not care too much about Keane's no-show on Sunday, clearly having decided that he has made a catastrophic blunder in paying£20.3million for a player who is simply not going to provide Liverpool with that top-quality second forward alongside Fernando Torres that they need to challenge for the title.     More from Hatchet Man...   Hatchet man: Cudicini timing it right to cash in, even if he stays a back-up 26/01/09   Hatchet man: Chimbonda move to Spurs is looking a mistake all round 26/01/09   HATCHET MAN: And now for my next trick...Mido the illusionist set to make Wigan his latest victim 23/01/09   HATCHET MAN: Will Wenger be able to ignore the new instant replays at Arsenal? 23/01/09   HATCHET MAN: Hughes sorry now? City boss is paying the price for giving Robinho the superstar treatment 23/01/09   HATCHET MAN: Liverpool's comedy double act could be about to wreck their title challenge 23/01/09   HATCHET MAN: Ronaldo needing a confidence boost? Don't be daft, Phelan 22/01/09   HATCHET MAN: Spurs duo Pavlyuchenko and Bent are first choice ... for worst miss of the season 22/01/09   VIEW FULL ARCHIVE   In truth, Benitez's mind may have been made up by the Merseyside derby six days earlier when Keane was virtually anonymous for three-quarters of the game until he was substituted by Yossi Benayoun and was seemingly incapable of exerting any influence on a hugely important match for his side. In explaining why he decided to leave Keane out, Benitez did not even try to sugar the pill, saying: 'I decided not to select him. That was all.' Keane has scored just five League goals all season, four of them coming against Bolton and West Bromwich Albion. The only goal he has scored against a top-class defence is Liverpool's equaliser against Arsenal in December. The lack of faith on both sides is such that it would be no surprise if Benitez tried to dump Keane before the end of the transfer window and try to bring in a striker who can actually find the net on a regular basis.

Source: Daily_Mail