Last Updated: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:02
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has admitted Robbie Keane's stay at Anfield did not work out because they failed to land Gareth Barry.
Benitez has admitted Barry was his main target and he bought Keane as part of a plan to play the former Aston Villa man on the left side of midfield to supply Keane and Torres.
When he ultimately failed to land Barry he believes Keane's chances of success where then diminished.
"The plan was for Barry to play on the left and feed the ball to Robbie Keane, who would play up front with Fernando Torres," Benitez told the Times.
"This blueprint had to be scrapped. The collateral damage was Keane, who signed from Tottenham Hotspur before the Barry deal had been done.
"When we wanted to sign Barry, we were sure we were signing a good player with a very good mentality and the quality to play in the Premier League. The priority was Barry, then Keane."