Manager Rafael Benitez has admitted he tried to persuade Portsmouth-bound striker Peter Crouch to stay at Liverpool this summer.

The England striker is on the verge of a permanent move to the south coast in a bid to play regular first-team football - something he failed to get at Anfield after the arrival of a number of new strikers last season, including record signing Fernando Torres.

And Benitez said that, while he would have liked to hold onto Crouch, he had to allow him to leave.

"He is a good professional and a nice person, and we would have wanted him to stay. We offered him a new contract," Benitez said.

"But sometimes you have to understand the player. He wanted to play a lot more, and with Fernando Torres now first choice that was always going to be difficult.

"I can understand Peter's situation, but he did very well for this club and we always supported him when people doubted the decision to bring him to Anfield."

Crouch is expected to fetch around £11 million when he finalises his transfer to Portsmouth, which could happen later on Wednesday.
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