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Football

Cisse must fight for starting slot


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Cisse accepts he must fight for the right to a Liverpool starting place

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) -- Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez plans to rotate his four strikers, Michael Owen, Djibril Cisse, Milan Baros and Florent Sinama-Pongolle, next season.

Benitez officially welcomed Frenchman Cisse, his new 13 million-pound signing, at a press conference on Tuesday.

"I think I have the best strike force in the Premiership," Benitez said. "But it gives me a selection headache and I will only know who to pick after training."

He added: "It is really the players' decision, it depends on how they do their job.

"Milan Baros is very happy and confident after Euro 2004 and I am glad he wants to stay with Liverpool. The more options for a manager, the better. At Valencia, I changed the forwards around nearly every match.

"Maybe it won't happen quite as often at Liverpool but the team is the most important thing. Some strikers might have to accept playing only 20 times."

Benitez also revealed he expects Owen to end speculation about his future by signing a new contract.

"He is happy here and I expect something to happen before the new season," said the former Valencia coach.

Benitez said there could be two more arrivals at Liverpool before next season.

"I had a talk with the Chief Executive Rick Parry about the squad on Monday," he said.

"It's important not to spend a lot of money for the type of players you already have. But we may have an interest in one or two players."

The arrival of 22-year-old Cisse from Auxerre follows a two-year chase by Liverpool started by their former manager Gerard Houllier.

Cisse has been the top scorer in the French league for the past two seasons but knows he is not guaranteed an automatic first-team place at Anfield.

"Michael Owen is a well-known figure internationally. I think Milan, Florent and myself have to fight for the right to play with him," said Cisse.

"The manager is a very honest guy and I know whoever is in the best form will get the chance to play.

"I liked Gerard Houllier very much but the change of manager never affected my decision to come. At a club like Liverpool, you have to work hard for success whoever is in charge.

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Czech striker Baros is aiming to impress new manager Benitez

"The big clubs have been busy in the transfer market and it will make for an exciting Premiership season."

Baros, top scorer at Euro 2004, earlier vowed to stay and help Liverpool win the English Premiership.

The young Czech, who spent much of last season recovering from a broken ankle, has been linked with the giants of Spanish soccer.

"I have heard all the rumors about Real Madrid and Barcelona supposedly being interested in me and of course it is nice to see clubs like that wanting you," he told the Liverpool website.

"But I am back at Liverpool now ready for a new season and I want to stay here and play as many games as I can. I think we can have a good season."

Poborsky stays

Czech midfielder Karel Poborsky opted to stay with Sparta Prague by signing a one-year deal on Tuesday.

Sparta officials said their captain had rejected offers from a number of foreign teams after showing fine form at Euro 2004.

Details of the new contract were not revealed but Poborsky is expected to remain Sparta's best-paid player.

Sparta finished runners-up in the league last season. They face Apoel Nicosia next week in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.


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