Ryan Babel has been included in the Liverpool squad which faces Bolton Wanderers at Anfield today having been informed by Rafael Benitez that he will not be sold before the January transfer window closes on Monday.

The Holland forward had seemed set to leave the club but Benitez, the Liverpool manager, has challenged him to prove himself worthy of a place in the team by fulfilling the potential that earned him an £11 million move to Merseyside in 2007.

Benitez also revealed he may not be able to add to his squad before the window closes on Monday, although he is still endeavouring to do so with a right back to fill in for the injured Glen Johnson and allow Jamie Carragher to revert to central defence being high on his list of priorities.

“Ryan will be in the squad,” Benitez said. “I think he will stay. I was talking with him and I told him that I know there are clubs asking about his future but I think he is a good player and he has to show his quality on the pitch. He can do it. It’s just a question of starting again and maybe having more confidence.

“We were looking for players for different positions. Right back was one of them as soon as we knew about Glen Johnson’s injury. But it isn’t easy because you cannot find players at the level that we have now and there aren’t too many better right backs than Carra.”

Source: TimesOnline