Babel admits Liverpool move request

Ryan Babel has admitted he did ask Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez about a loan move away from Anfield - and that the Reds boss offered him no assurances about his place in the side.

The young Dutchman scored a fine header to set Liverpool on their way to a 3-1 Champions League victory over PSV Eindhoven yesterday.

Before the match Babel's commitment to the cause and claims he had tried to get a loan move back to Ajax were talking points.

Babel's agent claimed the 20-year-old winger had wanted him to sound out Ajax about the proposition.

But Liverpool have made it very clear Babel is going nowhere and must knuckle down to his role in the squad, having been unable to convince Benitez he should be a regular in the starting line-up.

Now Benitez, as with Yossi Benayoun and the out-of-form Robbie Keane, has had to spell out the need to accept the squad system, and that they will not be sold.

Babel said after the win in Eindhoven: "I have talked to the manager about my future, about maybe a loan somewhere so I can play every week.

"Ajax was only an example, a possibility, not something I was trying to make happen."

Ajax had been keen on the idea, but have been told there is no chance of such a move while Liverpool are fighting for the Barclays Premier League title.

Babel said: "Rafa has said no. He did not promise me anything for the rest of the season, there were no conditions and I have to accept this."