Benitez defends decision to 'cut losses' on Keane

LIVERPOOL: Rafael Benitez on Tuesday defended the sale of Robbie Keane back to Tottenham, claiming the forward had failed to prove himself at Anfield and left the club with no option but to "cut our losses".

Keane returned to Spurs on Monday, leaving Liverpool, who paid 20 million pounds ($29 million) to sign him last summer, nursing a loss that Benitez admitted would be over three million pounds.

Benitez's decision to offload the forward has provoked some disquiet among Liverpool fans who fear that his failure to bring in a replacement striker could undermine the club's ability to challenge champions Manchester United for the Premier League title.