Premier League - Lawrenson sorry for Keane claim

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.

2008-2009 Liverpool Robbie Keane - 0

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."

TeamTalk / Eurosport

Comment 43 - 62 of 62

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  1. 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???

    From Andrew, on Thu 18 Dec 6:24PM
  2. willoco_59,Oh my god,you are gay,MUPPET

    From kevin, on Thu 18 Dec 5:57PM
  3. 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

    From chris f, on Thu 18 Dec 12:05PM
  4. Hello scouser's checkout the european champions on­ ch5 now !!

    From fluffy.bits, on Thu 18 Dec 11:54AM
  5. 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

    From chris f, on Thu 18 Dec 11:47AM
  6. ROBBIE KEANE WILL COME GOOD WHEN TORRES " THE MAN­ " RETURN NEXT JANUARY.

    From mrcs_94, on Thu 18 Dec 8:50AM
  7. 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!

    From nate, on Thu 18 Dec 3:17AM
  8. 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.

    From Naren7, on Thu 18 Dec 2:53AM
  9. 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

    From zul, on Thu 18 Dec 12:52AM
  10. remember peter crouch? same different..!

    From carlamms, on Thu 18 Dec 12:44AM
  11. KEANE MAKE'S VORONIN LOOK SPECIAL...DON'T­ FORGET TO WATCH THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS ON CH5 TOMORROW­ AT 10.30am....BYE BYE NOW !!!

    From fluffy.bits, on Wed 17 Dec 9:28PM
  12. Lawrenson should just shut that gob of his. @#$%­ blabber mouth.

    From sappercommando25, on Wed 17 Dec 9:00PM
  13. Liverpool should sell Keane and buy Beattie for about­ 40mil and then give him away on a free loan deal to­ Scunthorpe ;-)

    From mcluskyisms, on Wed 17 Dec 8:43PM
  14. 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??

    From Beltenebros, on Wed 17 Dec 7:37PM
  15. Keane is a first class player. Whether or not Beni is a­ first class manager is still a matter of opinion!

    From Paperboy, on Wed 17 Dec 7:18PM
  16. owen come to liverpool you been born for it

    From nezir, on Wed 17 Dec 7:13PM
  17. 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.

    From mbblaede2, on Wed 17 Dec 7:01PM
  18. 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.

    From Yea-Joon, on Wed 17 Dec 6:59PM
  19. 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

    From jeffreyray, on Wed 17 Dec 5:55PM
  20. i will say no to owen or heskey... better try to find­ another players..

    From Del Reds Piero, on Wed 17 Dec 5:08PM
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