Litmanen resigned to a quiet year at Liverpool

Finnish striker Jari Litmanen is unhappy at Liverpool but is resigned to enduring the last year of his contract at the English premier league club with very little first team football.

Litmanen was signed by Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier from Barcelona on a free transfer in January 2001, but has only made 19 starts for the club and has been given squad number 37 for the new campaign.

"I really wanted more out of this move but when you are not playing it is difficult to remain enthusiastic," the 31-year-old Finland international was quoted as saying in Tuesday's Guardian newspaper.

"If I look at the last two seasons I have to admit it has not made me a happy person. Liverpool might have a problem keeping everyone happy at the club if they are not playing regularly.

"I would really like to play a bigger part in our championship race.

"It is purely the manager's choice and he does not explain why I am not getting in. All I hear is that 'we have a big squad and everyone will play some games.'

"I know that Michael Owen and Emile Heskey are first choice players but if one of them was not playing last season it was either Robbie Fowler or Nicolas Anelka who would play.

"Houllier is the boss at Liverpool and nobody argues with him. I will not either. I just have to accept my situation even if it makes me miserable at times."

When Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier signed El-Hadji Diouf after the World Cup, Litmanen was expected to return to Dutch side Ajax -- where he played for seven years before joining Barcelona -- but he could not agree terms.

"I don't think Liverpool expected me still to be here," Litmanen said.

"They expected every player to turn up for pre-season training except me. I have to accept I will probably be here for another 12 months, as I can see no solution to the problem."