Don't worry man, you've got plenty of cash to spend on a replacement. Maybe you could get Fabiano.

Buying the shirt once he's given a number!

I have been a fan of his for years. It is a great buy, although it might be seen as a few million too much. He still has a few good years left in him and i'm sure he will score plenty of goals.

What a great signing of a player that always leaves it on the field when the final whistle blows..... Well done Liverpool!

poor guy

You can cry if you want...

well it was tongue in cheek to be fair. But i am extremely happy. Bit of an anti climax as its been on the cards for so long, and i knew last week it would happen today but im very happy. This is the sort of signing Liverpool should be making every season. Torres was the first big signing we've made, Keane the 2nd, now lets hope we can get another.

We should ditch Voronin so he can have no.10

I'm happy about this signing, perhaps we payed over the odds, but if he gets us lots of goals then who cares.

I also wonder where this leaves Spurs now Keane is gone, what will they do if Berbatov joins United? Their two starting forwards gone with only a month before the start of the season. They can't rely on Darren Bent for goals.

Apparently hes getting the number 7 shirt.

A very shrewd signing for me. He's proven beyond doubt in the EPL and in a stronger team he might do even better. A little overpriced at 18m but there are not many proven goalscorers in the EPL hanging around.

I wonder how he will fit him and Torres in the same side.

I think

-----------------------------Reina----------------------------

-------Arbeloa------Carragher------Skrtel----Aurellio------

---------------------------Mascherano---------------------

----------------------Alonso----------Barry-------------------

------------------------------Gerrard--------------------------

-----------------------Keane-----------Torres----------------


with Gerrard providing width on the right and Barry on the left to vary the attack

Scratch that idea - no wingers?

-------------------Reina----------------------
Carragher------Skrtel------Agger----Dossena
-----------------Mascherano------------
-------Silva--------Gerrard-------------Babel---
--------------Keane----Torres----------------

That would be much better, Liverpool don't need Barry, Silva is what they should be looking for.

I agree. Silva should be the man we sign, not Barry.

That formation would be good. We'd rotate between that and this:


------------------Reina----------------

Arbeloa--Carragher--Agger--Dossena (with Skrtel also playing regularly)

------------------------Masch------------
---------Alonso--------------------------

----------------Gerrard-----------------
----Keane---------------------Babel (or Silva if we sign him)
-----------------Torres------------------

Yeah, I think that could be dangerous. The signing of Silva would make us favourites - in my eyes.

You look after him. I hope his house gets burgled.

I thought that was tradition

He has to score a winning penalty first

Do you know what, i'm starting to feel optimistic!

Wow, can you imagine what would happen if we signed Silva. I'd probably have an uncontrollable urge to run outside and proclaim to the world the utter awesomeness of our team.

Glad to hear that we've finally completed Keane's move!

THE FIRST KEANE INTERVIEW AS A Liverpool PLAYER

Robbie, you're a Liverpool fan – this must be a dream come true?

It is a dream come true. I have been a massive fan all my life and to be sat here today is overwhelming.

Why is now the right time to come to Liverpool?

Because the opportunity came along. You know, Liverpool came in for me and it was something I always dreamed about as a kid. I am at the stage now where I want to kick on a bit and win a lot of trophies. I believe that Liverpool can do that with the squad of players we have.

Is it right you had the opportunity to come here when you were a teenager?

I had the opportunity when I was 14. I could have signed but I just thought that, at the age I was, I might have a better chance of playing first-team football at Wolves – and that's how it worked out. I don't regret it, because I got into the Wolves team when I was just 17. I never regret things in life. By being at Wolves and going to the clubs I've been to – these things have led me to where I am today. There has been talk and speculation about a transfer since then but until now it has always been speculation.

What has Rafa Benitez told you about your role here?

I have spoken to him about the situation. He knows how I play and hopefully I can do a job for him. It is up to me to prove that I can stay in the team every week. You don't just come into a club and expect to walk straight into the team; you have to earn your place and I am looking forward to doing that.

You'll be working day in, day out with Rafa – was he a big factor in you signing?

Yes, he was. He is a fantastic manager and has done a lot for Liverpool Football Club. He has won the Champions League. That is a massive factor. But no one has to sell Liverpool Football Club to me. It sold itself a long, long time ago. When an opportunity like this comes along, you have to grab it with both hands.

You've played with some of the best strikers around in the last few years and I guess you are chomping at the bit to get out there and play with perhaps the best forward in the world, Fernando Torres…

He has been a revelation since he came to the Premier League. He was absolutely outstanding last year and also in the Euros with Spain. It is hard to leave Tottenham with some of the players they had – like Dimitar Berbatov, who I had a great relationship with – but Torres is probably the best striker in the world right now. Hopefully we can play a lot of games together and do well.

Do you see yourself as a second striker, someone who can play a bit deeper behind, say, Torres, or as a striker in your own right?

I see myself as a second striker. I can play off the shoulder, link things up and play in the hole. You are always judged on scoring goals as a striker and I have always scored a lot of goals. Hopefully I can continue that here at Liverpool.

How keen are you to pull on that number seven shirt here at Liverpool?

Yes, as a Liverpool fan the number seven jersey is massive. It is a fantastic opportunity for me that obviously I'm relishing. The people who have worn the number seven here, like Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish – if I do half the job they did at Liverpool I will be happy.

Was the lure of the Champions League a big factor?

I have only played in Champions League qualifiers before but, you know, it's the whole package. I have always wanted to come here but, yes, the Champions League and being able to win things is a major factor.

At 28, would you say you are in your prime?

Yes, I think so. The last four years have been great for me and I believe I am at my peak. I am at a good age and if I didn't come to Liverpool now, maybe the opportunity wouldn't come again. It has worked out perfectly for me and, hopefully, for Liverpool Football Club as well.

You scored two against us last year – was that strange, as a Liverpool fan?

It is difficult. I support Liverpool but you have to blank that out of your mind. It was nice to score at the Kop end but now I am looking forward to scoring at the Kop end in a red shirt.

It's Villarreal on Wednesday, then Rangers at the weekend. Either of these would be great to make your debut, wouldn't they?

Regardless of who it's against it will be fantastic. It's something I am really looking to. I'm not too bothered who it is against, I'm just looking forward to pulling on that red shirt and playing for Liverpool. It's something I've always dreamed about and sometimes dreams do come true.

You are famous for your cartwheel celebration – might we see that at Anfield any time soon?

I will probably bring it out once for the Liverpool fans as I've done it down the years, but after that it will probably go back in the box.

And this must be a nice way to end a brilliant summer for you, what with you getting married as well?

Yes, it's been a fantastic year for me all in all, with Tottenham doing well and winning the League Cup, then getting married and now coming to the club I love. I will never, ever forget this year.

Was it a difficult decision to leave Tottenham?

It was, because of the relationship I had with everyone there, and being vice-captain. Ledley King has been injured quite a lot, so I've had to take on the role of captain quite a bit. The relationship I had with the fans and the chairman meant it was difficult to leave. I am leaving good friends behind, but if there is one club that could take me away from Tottenham it is Liverpool.

Do you have a message for the Tottenham supporters?

Sometimes in life you don't get many opportunities to go somewhere you have dreamed of going. The Tottenham fans have been absolutely brilliant with me and I want to thank them for their support over the years. I look forward to seeing them again and I will never forget the way they treated me.

And what would you say to Liverpool fans who are obviously very excited about seeing you here?

I can't wait to put the jersey on and hopefully they are looking forward to it too. I will always give 100 per cent for this club and hopefully score and create goals.

Come on keane my favourite republic of ireland player has now joined my team break out the cartwheel agaisnt the scum........

Thing is though Sticky, we need players for the here and now, i'm sure you'll agree - and Keane brings that. He is a player in his peak and that's perfect for what we need, a title challenge NOW, rather than in a few years time. The blend of players at their prime who can perform as leaders with their experience (Keane, Barry both been captains for example, Carragher and Gerrard the same) and put their best days into a Liverpool shirt, with the youthful hunger and rise of players such as Torres, Mascherano, Babel, Lucas, Agger, Skrtel etc. will be greatly beneficial.

£20m is a lot, but i'd rather pay £20m on a player in his prime than on a player who'll take time to settle and take even a few years to reach his best performances, as we (desperately) need the former.

Keane is a fine acquisition and one that will take our attack on a great deal. With Torres, Gerrard and Keane people may actually begin to be fearful of what we can do when attacking them.



Ahem.

It is remarkable in a way how we've come on this past year - prior to the summer of 2007 we couldn't really imagine making a signing like Torres, so to make three high profile (and expensive) captures in such a space of time is quite something. It's the sort of players we need and are finally getting.