Roy Hodgson was considering selling Babel last month and would have done if the Reds had been able to sign a striker themselves. Since they didn't, the boss is prepared to give Babel plenty of chances between now and the transfer window re-opening on January 1st to prove he still has a future with Liverpool.
"When there were offers for him we were prepared for him to go down and speak to those clubs, but we made it perfectly clear that other things would have to slot into place for us to be able to allow him to go," Hodgson told reporters yesterday.
"Those things did not slot into place.
"You've got to remember that for two years here he hasn't had much of a look-in.
"He was brought into the club with a lot of pomp and ceremony after winning the European U21 Championships and was being chased by clubs all over Europe at the time.
"Unfortunately he hasn't fulfilled that potential or had chance to.
"I've got to say that I'm more than happy to work with Ryan Babel and it's up to him to convince me. No doubt if he hasn't done that by January he'll have to accept that maybe we'll be in that transfer market for a centre-forward once again, but at least he's got this period of time.
"He's working very hard and is very determined to take this chance he's got."