Crouch to fight for his place.

Peter Crouch has once again reiterated his desire to fight for a regular starting place in Rafael Benitez's team.

The Reds' striker made his first league start of the season on Saturday, but was replaced after an hour of the goalless stalemate at Portsmouth as Liverpool slipped off the top of the league table.

Crouch admits he'd like to have made more starts this term, but he's determined to prove himself an important member of the squad as the campaign goes on.

"There are times when it can be frustrating," said Crouch. "But I fully understand the manager's thinking and when called upon, I just have to make sure I'm ready.

"Maybe I'm not playing every week but I'll certainly get a good amount of games. Look at the team this season. We're challenging for the league, the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup. I want to be part of that and hopefully come away with a few medals.

"Everyone wants to be playing games. All the lads are greedy and want to play every game, but the manager has told me it is not possible to play in every game with the number of competitions we are in. That's good enough for me.

"Hopefully I can play a few more games than I have been doing, but I'm not too frustrated. I am confident I will get a good amount of games this year."

He'll be sold in January so the moaning can end.

He's not that bad a player though surely.

Yeah. Id prefer to keep him. I can see why he's moaning though, he hasnt played much Premiership football this season.

Hed walk into your side anyway.

Why are you saying that?
I say something positive and I get it thrown back in my face..... Put it this way, I think he's a good player but would NOT want him in our side.

I agree Fozz, good player but i'm still not convinced

He's a squad player, not 1st choice anymore and that is what he cant take. If you're after winning the league his goal ratio isnt good enough. Sure he can hold the ball up well, have a nice touch here and there but how many times has he missed golden chances? Sure Torres isnt going to bag every chance he gets but Im sure he'll do so more than Crouch

Ha! What are you on about crabhead? He was our highest scorer last season even when he missed considerable chuncks due to Rafa trying to forge a partnership between Bellamy and Kuyt. If Crouch had played as much as those i'm sure he'd of been our Premier League top scorer too.

He has the best technique of any of our strikers, the problem is he doesn't really fit into a distinctive striker role. He's big - but can't head. He's slim - but is slow.

He has excellent finishing and amazing technique, the problem being - it's hard to play to him. Do you play to his feet which he prefers, when he has no pace, or play it high when he can't jump for [beep!]? He relies a lot on players in and around him.

Still, try finding a better fourth choice striker we could sign. Not that i think he's fourth choice to be honest - his so called lack of games has been exaggerated.


Oh and also, Torres is equally as bad as Crouch for spurning sitters. They're very similar in that respect, that when they finish it tends to be sublime, but they miss the easier ones.