Babel bids to emulate Henry

Ryan Babel hopes to light up Liverpool the way Thierry Henry ignited Arsenal after completing his £11.5 million move to Anfield.

The 20-year-old Dutch striker, who can play on the wing, has put pen to paper to a five-year deal with last season's beaten Champions League finalists.

And with comparisons being made between him and Henry, Babel is happy to see himself in the same mould as the Frenchman.

He said: "It is great that some people are comparing me to Henry. I will work hard to get to his level or maybe beyond it in the next few years.

"Hopefully I am somebody that will please the supporters. I am a fast player, who likes to dribble and play beautiful football. I like to score goals as well.

"I have heard the Liverpool fans get behind the team in every game and that is important to me."

With Babel, Yossi Benayoun, Andryi Voronin and record-signing Fernando Torres all moving to the Merseysiders this summer, much will be expected from Rafael Benitez's men, who kick off their Premier League campaign at Aston Villa.

The Dutch star said: "If you are Liverpool you have to go for the championship. This year is going to be an exciting one.

"I like to think I play well in the big games. It was that way last season when Ajax faced PSV and Feyenoord. Hopefully we can win a lot of prizes this season."

Meanwhile, Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has insisted the club's plans for a new £280 million stadium at Stanley Park will not divert attention from on-field success.

The Reds have submitted plans to the city council for their new 60,000-capacity home which are to be discussed by councillors next week.

Work could begin by the end of the year, with the club moving to their new home for the start of the 2010 / 11 season.

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