CROUCH HOPES FOWLER STAYS AT ANFIELD - 9:50 AM, Apr. 4, 2006

Peter Crouch has made it pretty clear he hopes Robbie Fowler is rewarded with a new contract to keep him at Liverpool after this season.

The former England man admits he is sweating on whether boss Rafael Benitez is going to extend his short-term deal which runs out on July 1.

But Crouch's comments that it is an "honour" to play alongside Fowler underline his opinion on the subject of whether Fowler - who has now overtaken Kenny Dalglish in the club's all-time scoring list - stays at the club.

Crouch said: "For me personally it's an honour just to be in the same team as him because he's been such a great player over the years, and obviously with myself being a striker you watch players like him and learn from him."

Crouch told the club website, www.liverpoolfc.tv. "It's a pleasure to play with him and if I can learn things from him in training and take parts of his game to mine then it can only benefit myself.

"He has proved over the years what good movement he has got and what a good finisher he is. Even in training you can see by his finishing just how top quality he is, and hopefully I can learn from him."

Crouch revealed he was also at last happy with his own scoring form after scoring 12 goals in his last 25 games.

He said: "A lot was made at the start of this season when I wasn't scoring but it's taken me time to settle in.

"I feel really settled now and when I go into games I'm thinking I am going to score which is a good feeling to have.

"I must thank the fans for their support and that is what has been so good for me. When you come to a new club you hope to have a good rapport with the fans and hopefully I have got that.

"They have been top class with me ever since I arrived and walked through the door, it is a pleasure to play for a club like this."

Another striker aiming to make his mark at Anfield is 17 year-old trialist Lee Tomlin, who got his first taste of action in a Liverpool odds shirt when he came on as substitute for the final 26 minutes of the reserves' 1-0 soccer line spread win over Birmingham on Monday at Wrexham.

Tomlin is on a week's trial from Rushden and Diamonds.

Liverpool won the match with a last-minute goal from another 17 year-old, Paul Anderson netting and continuing to impress following his transfer window move from Hull.

Anderson, who was on the bench for the Champions League game with Benfica last month, is expected to be the key figure in the FA Youth Cup Final against Manchester City which will be played over two legs on April 13 and 21.