BBC’s Lawrenson backtracks on Keane comments
In a live interview with Today FM Lawrenson revealed he was told by Liverpool captain Gerrard that Keane “could be moved on”.
In conversation with host Matt Cooper, Lawrenson said: “I hate to name drop, but I was having a drink with 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.”
That candid disclosure will certainly have pricked up the ears of Keane, Gerrard and Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez.
But Lawrenson last night attempted to brush over the row. He said: “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.”
A Liverpool spokesman denied that Gerrard had said Keane would leave Liverpool. “Mark Lawrenson’s remarks are his interpretation of a private chat between the two of them. 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,” said a club statement.
