Peter Crouch is a fine player but in the Liverpool team, he is never going to establish himself as a starter. But he has shown himself to be a better finisher than Kuyt, Babel and Ponytail so the back-up to Torres should be him actually. However, Kuyt and Babel will suit Liverpool's 4-2-3-1 (or 4-5-1) as wide men better and we really need a good second striker so I guess Crouchie would have to go if he wants more "air time". But I agree, Ponytail for all his running and early promise, lack that bit of class, touch and finishing. He should be the first to leave but he won't bring much dough in, that's the problem and also the testimony that Crouch is a better player.

Liverpool bought Degen and and Dossena but I haven't heard of them before so I guess it is fair to say they are not the kind of players that will add much to what we have in the team already. Frankly, I can't see why would Degen be a good replacement for Finnan when he has not played a second of Premier League football yet. Liverpool should not sell old reliable Finnan to Villa no matter what O'Neill think Barry is worth. On the same note, Alonso may not be as mobile as Barry but his range of passing and his shooting beats Gareth's anytime so I don't think this piece of business makes any sense.

I think Liverpool should concentrate on the transfers that is going to bring impact this season. Keep Finnan and Alonso. Sell Crouch and Voronin and Pennant. Buy Robbie Keane/David Villa and David Silva. And let scrawny O'Neill blink first. They have more to lose than us if the transfer doesn't happen.

He should have sent Voronin back where he got him from. That dude is just plain @#$%.

gordon, what do you call Dossena (left back) Degen (right back) and potentially Gareth Barry (centre mid) then if we are not investing in defence and midfield?!

What a load of tosh, he has`nt gone yet and Benetez has opened his big fat spanish waiters gob about him wanting to play more frequent, is David Villa going to sit on the bench---I don`t think so

GO REDS! while i would never complain to see more quality across the whole squad, it seems our defence is a little crowded, and if alonso to juventus doesn't come through, maybe the midfield as well. despite rafa's optimism, is anyone excited about any of the players he listed as a second striker (ponytail has to go, by the way)? i'd like to see another out and out striker, and definitely a little more pace, skill and qualty of service out on the attacking wings. i like babel, but he's a little raw still, and better suited to play up front ~ although wherever he ends up, he needs to stop falling down every second time he touches the ball. whether it's villa, silva, bentley, downing, quaresma or arshavin, i want some teeth in the attack. again though gordon, i'll never complain about adding depth, providing it's at a decent value, and doesn't preclude attackers that will allow #8 to play in a more central role.

Rafa's fine attitude in treating his players with respect has once again been displayed here. I wish Crouch all the best and wouldn't mind seeing David Villa in a red shirt soon alongside Torres... but Liverpool should perhaps invest more into its defence and midfield first!?