A transfer window does not go by without the Holland international being linked with a move away from Anfield. Last January, after a fall-out with former boss Rafael Benitez, it seemed the 23-year-old's Liverpool career was coming to an end despite the club rejecting a bid from Birmingham. However, after a heart-to-heart with Benitez the Dutchman was given a second chance. With the Spaniard's departure in the summer Babel began the season with a clean slate and despite it being suggested yesterday he could be the makeweight in a move for West Ham striker Carlton Cole the player is keen to remain at Anfield. Hodgson has said he is interested in seeing whether Babel can provide the necessary back-up to striker Fernando Torres, having spent the majority of his Liverpool career on the left wing. For his part the £10.5million signing from Ajax in July 2007 is keen to succeed in a role he feels he is more suited to - even though the Reds boss still wants to bring in another striker before the close of the transfer window. "I spoke with him at the beginning [of the season] about this. It is positive," said Babel. "He promised me already I will play up front when he plays me so that is what I am focusing on. "Every player has a preferred position but wherever the manager plays me I will do my best. "I see myself as a winger and also a centre-forward but every player wants to play. "Maybe it will be good for me with the competition (from any prospective new signing)." Babel insisted the regular speculation about his future did not affect him. "It doesn't frustrate me because as long as I do not hear anything from the club then they can say whatever," he added. Hodgson admitted there had been interest in Babel but he would like to see the player develop further and hopefully finally flourish at Anfield. "There are clubs who want Ryan Babel and who knows what might happen in the next two days?" said the Liverpool manager. "I can't make bold statements but if Ryan is here at the end of the transfer window then I'm looking to use him in that striking position, "That is where he thinks he is best and there is no reason for me to doubt him. "I don't know enough about him to have a strong opinion one way but he has qualities you can use as a striker." The Holland international was given only a few minutes at the end of yesterday's 1-0 victory over West Brom, replacing goalscorer Fernando Torres. But has already played his part in this campaign, scoring the only goal which allowed them to take a 1-0 lead to Trabzonspor in the Europa League play-off and eventually qualify for the group stages. The team has yet to register a confident performance this season but Babel said a number of contributory factors have to be taken into consideration. "We have had some changes, new staff, new everything and we have had a lot of players arriving late (after the World Cup) so we've had to get used to each other," said the Babel, one of the last to return to the club's Melwood training ground as a losing World Cup finalist. "I think for the manager it is always difficult if you cannot work with the full squad from the beginning. "It is the start of the season and we can improve as always. "The last week (with victories over Trabzonspor and West Brom) will have given us some confidence so it should be positive going forward. "I think now we can go with a better feeling to international duty. "We have a little break now but I'm sure the confidence is there now because of the win." West Brom endured their 24th match without a win at Anfield, a run stretching back to 1967, and they have now not won an away Premier League game in 17 attempts. "We didn't just defend, we tried to be positive and play forward," said manager Roberto Di Matteo, who was also pleased with the performance of Marc-Antoine Fortune on his return to the club from Celtic. "I think Fortune did well for us but he was only with us for two days and we need a bit of time to settle down and integrate all these new players we have signed into the team."
