Babel reveals Rafa heart-to-heart

RYAN BABEL hopes his heart-to-heart chat with Rafael Benitez can help salvage his Anfield career.

Babel has endured a hugely disappointing campaign to prompt talk of an exit from Liverpool in the summer, with the player the subject of a £9million bid from Birmingham City last month.

Sunday's goalless draw against Manchester City was his first Premier League start since lining up against the same opposition at Anfield back in November.

Babel was hauled off in the second half after an ineffective display, meaning the Dutchman has still only played the full 90 minutes once this season.

But the 23-year-old has held talks with manager Benitez aimed at bringing out his best as he attempts to prove he has a future at the club.

"I have had a good talk with the manager and I know what I have to do," said Babel. "I just have to try to be patient, keep working hard and doing my best."

Babel will be part of the squad that flies to Romania this afternoon ahead of tomorrow's Europa League return clash against Unirea Urziceni.

Benitez's side will defend a slender one-goal lead from the first leg as they look to progress to the last 16 and a tie against either Lille or Fenerbahce.

And Babel believes Liverpool's improving defensive form - the Anfield outfit have kept six clean sheets in their last seven games - can bolster their only chance of silverware this season.

"At Liverpool we try to win every trophy that it is possible to go for," he said. "At the moment that's only the Europa League so we are definitely going to try to win the trophy.

"We have definitely improved over the last few weeks with a lot of clean sheets. The defence has been the basis of our better results.

Liverpool's reserve game at Sunderland last night was called off.

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