Keane reports denied

Liverpool have denied claims by captain Steven Gerrard that Robbie Keane will leave Anfield in the January transfer window.

Keane has struggled in front of goal since his £20million move from Tottenham in the summer and, despite a good run out in the Champions League clash with PSV last week, he found himself on the bench again for the draw with Hull.

The Republic of Ireland international failed to appear despite Liverpool looking to pinch a late winner against the Tigers and former player Mark Lawrenson added to the speculation when he claimed that Gerrard had told him that Keane could be offloaded.

"I hate to name drop," Lawrenson told The Last Word on Today FM. "But I was having a drink with (Steven) 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."

The club have hit back and claimed that Gerrard's version of events differs greatly from Lawrenson's, adding: "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."