Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has revealed the failure to sign Gareth Barry from Aston Villa contributed to Robbie Keane's failure at Anfield.

Eventually, Barry signed with Manchester City, while Keane lasted a matter of months before being sold back to Tottenham.

"Keane was a very good signing and everybody knew that he was a goal threat," Benítez told The Times. "He did not settle down in our team for different reasons and we needed to do something, so we did it quickly.

"With other players around it would have been easier for Keane. We played a different way."