DIRK KUYT has welcomed the extra competition for first-team places at Liverpool by the imminent arrival of Robbie Keane.

Keane is expected to complete his move from Tottenham Hotspur this week for a deal that could ultimately reach up to £20million.

The 28-year-old, who is the Republic of Ireland’s all-time leading scorer with 33 goals in 80 internationals, netted 23 times for Tottenham last season – including a double at Anfield in the 2-2 draw in October.

Rafael Benitez’s recruitment of the former Wolverhampton Wanderers, Coventry City, Inter Milan and Leeds United frontman is expected to increase the pressure on Kuyt for a place in the starting line-up.

But the Dutchman is delighted another major star is heading to the club.

“When you are a Liverpool player there will always be big names in the team and big signings coming in,” said Kuyt. “That’s what we need.

“We want to progress and we want to step up in the league, so you always need better players.

“Personally I welcome it (new signings). There will always be competition and that's a great thing for the club.

“We are a big team and you always have to be ready or someone will come in and take your place.”

Although scoring 11 times last season, Kuyt struggled to find the net in top-flight matches.

He followed up his goal in the Champions League final defeat to AC Milan the previous season with seven strikes in Europe but only registered once from open play in the Premier League in the 3-0 win at Newcastle United in November.

His only other domestic goals came via a brace of penalties in the 2-1 derby victory over Everton at Goodison Park in October and an effort in the shock 2-1 home defeat to Barnsley in the FA Cup in February.

Kuyt said: “I enjoyed last season on the right and playing a lot of games. That is the most important thing for me, playing as many games as possible. I think I showed I can play on the right, as a target man or a second striker.

“It is going to be a long season and hopefully with a lot of games for us. It isn’t a big problem for me playing in different positions, just being ready whenever the manager needs me.

“For me personally I finished the season really well with Liverpool.

“We were a bit unlucky in the Champions League semi-final but hopefully we can progress and put it right next time.”

Having only returned to pre-season training last Wednesday following his Euro 2008 exploits with Holland, Kuyt is being eased back into the first-team fold by Benitez.

He played 15 minutes of the dire goalless draw with Hertha Berlin on Wednesday night but is expected to play a more prominent role when Liverpool visit Villarreal next week.

Meanwhile, Yossi Benayoun is convinced he can improve on his goal tally this season.

The Israeli midfielder netted 11 times in his debut campaign for the club, including hat-tricks in both the Champions League and FA Cup.

And Benayoun said: “I believe in myself and know what I can do.

“I think I had a good season last year, but I want to improve and score more goals. It’s up to the manager – my job is to do what I can for the best of the team.”