EXIT DOOR LOOMING FOR WARNOCK

Mark Platt 19 January 2007 Stephen Warnock looks on the verge of leaving Liverpool after Rafael Benitez confirmed a number of clubs have enquired about signing the defender.

The Ormskirk-born left-sided player has made just seven first team appearances for the Reds this season and Benitez admits the 25-year old needs regular football at this stage of his career. The boss said: "Two or three clubs have been asking about him. He has not played for us for a while and he needs to be playing regularly. I think the best solution is for him to find another team and I understand this." A graduate of the club's Academy system, Warnock fought back from two broken legs as a youth team player and deservedly broke into the first team following a successful loan spell at Coventry in 2004. He has since played 67 times and was an integral member of the squad that won the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup a season later.