Peter Crouch: I want to stay a Red

Jan 18 2008 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo

PETER CROUCH wants the talk about his Liverpool future to stop.

The Reds striker has endured almost 12 months of speculation that he could be heading for the Anfield exit door.

But he insists he has no wish to quit the club he joined for £7m in July 2005 and just wants to play more games and continue competing for football's biggest prizes.

Crouch said: "Everyone talks about me talking to clubs. Maybe it's because I'm not playing every game.

"But at a club like Liverpool you're not going to play every game.

"I've come to realise that this is the case at a club like this, whereas at somewhere else maybe you would play every game.

"But here we are competing for things and I certainly want to be a part of winning trophies."

During the current transfer window, Crouch has been linked with a return to former club Portsmouth, as well as moves to either Manchester City or Portsmouth.

But he insists no contact has been made by any of this trio and he is fully expecting to complete the season with Liverpool.

"I've not heard anything," he said.

"No-one's approached the club and no- one's approached me.

"There's a lot of speculation and, like I've said, that probably comes down to the fact that I'm not playing every game. But hopefully if I get a good run of games towards the end of the season then those rumours will go away."

Meanwhile, Charles Itandje has vowed to battle first choice keeper Pepe Reina for a regular place in the Liverpool side.

Itandje appeared in the Reds’ 5-0 FA Cup win over Luton in midweek and, having had another taste of the action, the Frenchman is now looking to get more games under his belt.

He said: "I know why I am not in the team and I am not complaining or anything like that.

"All I can do is keep pressing hard and be ready as and when I am needed. That's the way it is.

"But I will wait for my chance.

“Pepe is a great guy and a world class goalkeeper and he gets better and better all the time.

"I can only do my best and hope that I get more chances to show that I am at that level also,"

The date for Liverpool's Premiership clash against West Ham at Anfield has now been finalised.

The game, postponed from earlier in the season because of the Reds' participation in the qualifying round of the Champions League, will take place on Wednesday, March 5.