Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez sees Ryan Babel as a striker long-term.

Benitez said: "When we signed Albert Riera we thought of Babel being more of a striker.

"Ryan is still a young player. Some Dutch players come to England for only one or two years. In this case, this is his second year and he was injured at the start coming back from the Olympic Games.

"But he is giving us something more and I was really pleased with him the other day at Chelsea. I think that was the perfect game for him.

"At that time we needed pace and power and ability, so we could cope with the two centre-backs. He could beat them, it was perfect and really good for him."