Liverpool winger Ryan Babel returns to the squad for the Premier League match with Tottenham at Anfield on Wednesday night.
The Dutchman has held talks with manager Rafa Benitez after he was dropped for the Stoke match at the weekend, details of which were revealed by the player on his Twitter account.
Babel’s so-called “rant” caused quite a stir. He wrote “What happened after a first good season? Scoring 10 goals, being young talent of the year, and then second and this season don’t play at all? One day, you will see what I’m capable off (sic), will it be at LFC or somewhere else…I have faith.”
Babel has been the subject of an £8m bid from Birmingham, which was rejected earlier this month, yet his appearances in the first team are rare, and when he does play his performance has been poor. No wonder the player is bemused at his current situation.
With Torres, Gerrard and Benayoun on the sidelines, Babel has been included to face Tottenham in a massive game for the Reds.
Reports over the weekend suggested Liverpool were prepared to swap the Dutch attacker in exchange for Sunderland forward Kenwyne Jones.
Sunderland have denied Jones will be allowed to leave after initial reports linked Liverpool with a loan move for the Trinidad & Tobago international, but the BBC report this evening that talks are ongoing between the two clubs. Jones is reported to be keen on a move to Merseyside following a fall-out with Black Cats boss Steve Bruce.
