Benitez backs out-of-form Keane

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez insists misfiring striker Robbie Keane will overcome his current crisis in form.

The £20m (€23.5m) summer signing was substituted for the 15th time this season as Liverpool were held 0-0 at home by West Ham last night.

They did take over at the top of the Barclays Premier League, but it was anything but convincing and yet another occasion when the Reds have wasted a genuine opportunity to put clear water between themselves and their title rivals.

Keane looked a frustrated figure as he trudged off the Anfield pitch, to be replaced by rookie French striker David Ngog as Liverpool were battling to break down a determined West Ham rearguard.

And Keane's latest withdrawal from the fray by Benitez brought to a head an increasingly worrying situation for the Irishman.

Benitez said: "Robbie is a better player than the one we are seeing now."

Keane has managed just four goals this term, and only completed 90 minutes on three occasions in 22 appearances. He has come on as a substitute four times and been substituted 15 times.

Those statistics underline the problem for Benitez, with Keane struggling for form and confidence.

He is also suffering from the scenario that afflicted Craig Bellamy in his one season at Anfield.

With most teams opting to defend deep and in numbers at Anfield, there is little space for a quick striker to utilise his speed, and in that respect, Bellamy and Keane are very similar.

Benitez said: "We know what kind of player Robbie Keane is. He needs people around him to pass the ball well. I believe he will be okay, he will score more if we create chances for him.

"But if that does not happen we have to use players with different qualities to open up the game."

Benitez did his best to remain upbeat, but he knew only too well that two more points had been squandered from a winnable home game, just like Liverpool did against Stoke and Fulham.

He said: "It could have been three more points and top of the league. Clearly we are frustrated, but we are one point clear of Chelsea, and that is positive."