No further exits from Liverpool, says Benitez

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has said thtat he will not approve any further sales of Liverpool players as his team struggles to cope with a growing injury list.

The Spaniard has dismissed speculation that winger Albert Riera and striker Andriy Voronin could be leaving, with Barcelona and Hertha Berlin, respectively, showing interest.

Riera, who was left out of the squad that lost 2-1 at Tottenham last Sunday, was left out because of his lack of training last week due to a minor injury according to Benitez

Voronin, who came on as substitute at White Hart Lane, was on loan to Hertha last season and there have been suggestions the German club are preparing a £3million bid.

But the Spaniard’s current squad is hit by injuries and it has been revealed he has not been able to spend the transfer budget this summer he was expecting.

Benitez said: “Nobody will be sold because we need all our players. We can’t afford to lose anyone else.

“The Premier League is very difficult and we have to keep everyone we have at the moment.”

Both players are expected to be in the squad on Wednesday night to face Stoke at Anfield.

Liverpool are, however, closing in on a deal to sign AEK Athens centre-back Sotirios Kyrgiakos.

Benitez has been denied the funds needed to compete for the likes of Hull’s Michael Turner and Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross as well as Athletic Bilbao’s Fernando Amorebieta.

But Liverpool can table a £1.5m bid for former Rangers defender Kyrgiakos and are hopeful of landing the 30-year-old Greece international.

Kyrgiakos began his career at Panathinaikos before joining Rangers on loan in January 2004.

The 6ft 4in defender’s switch to Scotland was made permanent but he was released after his contract expired in July 2006.

Two seasons at Eintracht Frankfurt followed before he signed a five-year contract with AEK Athens last year.