London - Liverpool moved on Wednesday to dismiss speculation that misfiring forward Robbie Keane will leave the club in the January transfer window.

Former Liverpool player Mark Lawrenson, now a BBC pundit, said that the club captain Steven Gerrard had told him he thought the Republic of Ireland international could be sold.

But Liverpool issued a statement denying Lawrenson's claim.

"Mark Lawrenson's remarks are his interpretation of a private chat between the two of them," it said.

"They do not accurately reflect Steven's opinion of Robbie Keane and they certainly do not tally with Steven's recollection of the conversation itself."

Lawrenson had made the comments on Irish radio station Today FM.

"I hate to name drop. But I was having a drink with (Steven) Gerrard on Saturday and we talked about Keane," he said.

"They share the same agent (Struan Marshall) and quite honestly he thinks something is going to happen with Keane in January. Sounds like he could be moved on." (dpa)