Eurosport - Wed, 17 Dec 12:56:00 2008
Former Liverpool player Mark Lawrenson has apologised for sparking speculation Robbie Keane is to leave Anfield in January.
Lawrenson, now a media pundit, implied that Steven Gerrard had told him he expected the Irishman to leave once the transfer window opens in the new year.
Liverpool moved quickly to deny that claim, issuing a statement that the comments were an "interpretation of a private chat between the two of them" and that "they do not accurately reflect Steven's opinion of Robbie Keane and they certainly do not tally with Steven's recollection of the conversation itself."
And now Lawrenson has backtracked on his comments.
He told the Liverpool Daily Post: "I'm sorry if it caused any aggravation but it wasn't meant to. Steven Gerrard's name should never have come up in terms of Robbie Keane going in January. It wasn't Steven saying that it was me saying it.
"The only connection I was making between the two was that they have the same agent and I have had a hunch for a while that Keane could go.
"But that is my opinion and nothing whatsoever to do with any conversations I had with Steven Gerrard.
"I happened to mention I spoke to him on Saturday night but I didn't mean for that to come across in the way that it has been interpreted."
Since joining Liverpool for £20.3 million from Tottenham in the summer, Keane has struggled to make an impact, scoring just four goals in all competitions and not even making it off the bench in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Hull.
He has been linked with a move back to his former club Spurs, a rumour Lawrenson's initial comments on an Irish radio station only served to fuel.
Lawrenson told Today FM: "I hate to name drop. But I was having a drink with (Steven) Gerrard on Saturday and we talked about Keane.
"They share the same agent [Struan Marshall] and quite honestly he thinks something is going to happen with Keane in January. Sounds like he could be moved on."
Comment 43 - 62 of 62
NATEBUK No56 comment. From your article you appear reasonably intelligent, that is to say, it reads fairly well, but the actual content and its slant on Liverpool and their players suggests, well, your not that bright afterall. Don't comment, unless you actually think about it. I am a LFC supporter, but I am also unbiased. I call it as it is, and that wouldn't matter to me if it were LFC or their players I had to critisise. But hey, I'd say thats because I have at least a little intelligence. PS-If you are to comment, please don't be so blinkered in response. PPS-Like you, I'm not a huge fan of Frank L's but i wouldn't stoop to call him fat. I'm sure you've got a great sixpack???
willoco_59,Oh my god,you are gay,MUPPET
this is how the winners of European cup are listed. oh look no Man U !!! thats strange hey? maybe its because they not even in the top 5. oh and on Ch5 they playing (the take away chefs a really good side (not)).
European Cup winners
Real Madrid 9 times
AC Milan 7 times
Liverpool 5 times
Bayern Munich 4 times
Hello scouser's checkout the european champions on ch5 now !!
What an idiot this Mark Lawrencen is hey? Of all the liverpool greats he is the one and only prat. As for Rafa playing Keane " he has played him 24 times and he has only got 4 goals!! he never came on against Hull because he is off form. If he performs good in training then he will play its as simple as that. Lay off Rafa and Keane for F$*K sake they are top of the Table and not playing to the best...
Blondela LFC
ROBBIE KEANE WILL COME GOOD WHEN TORRES " THE MAN " RETURN NEXT JANUARY.
Gerrard is a superb club player like fat frank but niether are world class. Futhermore any grown man that is happy being called Stevie G needs a good slap quite frankly. Then again he is a Liverpudlian. And just as I was beginning to think that Lawro wasnt a complete feckwit he goes and opens his mouth again and attempts words. Of course the conversation took place. Lawro is like an 8 year old that cant help but spoil everyones Christmas by telling them what Satan Clause bought them. BTW if youve got something you want kept quite, dont tell Lawro!
Keane will surely start scoring if rafa starts playing him. in torres absence, keane should be partnered with babel, not kuyt. rafa should also show confidence in pennant. he is class. he is much better than kuyt in right wing and much faster too. also rafa should partner agger and skrtel at centre back in the future. no offence but i think carragher should be dropped. his time is up. too many mistakes and own goals. YNWA.
i agreed with mbblaede2,benitez should start more with babel.he had speed, pace and good shoot.with torres injured,he should start babel with keane.put nabil el-zhar on left wing.he better than reira and where is pennant.he should go for the right wing.why benitez always use kuyt on the right wing.he is useless on that position.pennant has pace and good cross. i think pennant will be sell on the january transfer.benitez also have a habit to buy player and don't use them.he don't know how to make a new star not like arsenal and manu who give chance to their youngster player. babel and pennat on first eleven.!!!!!!stupid rafa
remember peter crouch? same different..!
KEANE MAKE'S VORONIN LOOK SPECIAL...DON'T FORGET TO WATCH THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS ON CH5 TOMORROW AT 10.30am....BYE BYE NOW !!!
Lawrenson should just shut that gob of his. @#$% blabber mouth.
Liverpool should sell Keane and buy Beattie for about 40mil and then give him away on a free loan deal to Scunthorpe ;-)
Gorden.merkand chappy , im not disputing gerrards quality, but he thinks he is bigger than the club, his demands that benitez bring his buddy Barry to the club allmost caused the manager his job and what kind of captain speculates about one of his players like this??
Keane is a first class player. Whether or not Beni is a first class manager is still a matter of opinion!
owen come to liverpool you been born for it
I can't believe Rafa hasn't tried a Keane/Babel front in the absence of Torres. Putting El Zhar on instead of moving Babel up front with Keane in support?! Does anybody remember that Babel shined last year when allowed to play up top? I love Rafa but he's testing my patience.
Babel is a speedy, tricky young striker who has played well even though he is kept out of his best position and only gets a few minutes every few games.
Keane is one who will work hard (like Kuyt) and create for the goalscorer (Babel/Torres) but has better skills in passing than Kuyt and would score the same goals if he was only given time and a vote of confidence!
I'm glad my Reds are top of the table but I feel that both Keane and Babel need to be given a chance to shine.
Rafa, please, if you want to win the league, START KEANE AND BABEL! Give 'em a chance to prove their worth. And prove to us that you actually want to win this thing.
i have a feeling if keane comes back to spurs he'll start scoring goals for fun lol
as a spurs fan i'd love to see him come back, but I just don't see it happening though... it would make rafa look ridiculous and come on, keano IS a good player - give him some proper games and he'll come good i'm sure.
bring in a young striker a local lad from the training ranks some one who is hungry like Owen was,and mabey give Owen a short contract to guide a young striker, Keane is not jelling with the team and appears to be on a different wave length
i will say no to owen or heskey... better try to find another players..
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