Rafa: Crouch will sign deal

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez believes that striker Peter Crouch will sign a new deal, despite stalling over the current offer. Crouch's goal against Arsenal at the weekend helped Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium.

"Peter Crouch is a very good professional," Benitez told Liverpool's official website.

"That is the reason why we offered him a new contract.

"I have confidence he will sign. The player wants to. At the moment, we are playing with only one striker, but we can play with two. It is not a problem.

"If you are in a team which wins trophies and you know you can be an important part of that squad.

"I know he is happy here and that he wants to play. But that is football. We have offered the contract and we need to wait."