Mellor may have long term future, insists Rafa

Mellor-mania has hit Merseyside since the wondergoal which secured a second defeat on Arsenal in only six games, but the Liverpool striker is now keen to cement his place in the Anfield squad.

Benitez praised the young attackers form, and admitted he was an integral part of the team at the moment, with injuries afflicting Luis Garcia, Milan Baros and Djibril Cisse.

Benitez said: "Our position has always been the same. We don't have a lot of strikers at the moment and he is a player who scores goals. He has to keep doing the things he has been doing. He must work hard and keep doing his best."

He added: "Sometimes for a manager the decision is easy. It depends on the player. If he keeps playing well and scoring goals then good. If he doesn't then we will talk."