DIRK Kuyt hopes the Dutch connection proves a winner at Anfield this season as he tipped Ryan Babel to make a big impact at Liverpool.

Babel is free to make his first appearance of the China tour today after the permit shambles which ruled several players out on Tuesday was resolved.

The 20-year-old attacker will join Fernando Torres and Lucas Leiva in the squad against Portsmouth, as the Hong Kong fans finally get a glimpse of £35m of new talent. All three have received their international clearance.

Kuyt is an international team mate of Babel, but also played against the youngster in the Dutch league.

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He believes the maturity of the player will be a major asset as he tries to settle in England.

“He’s one of the most talented players in Holland, and the good thing he is still very young,” said Kuyt. “He played a lot of games for Ajax at a young age, and also the national team.

“The tournament he played for the Under 21s was really good, so I’m really happy he’s now with us.

“I’m sure he can do a good job at Anfield.

“I’ve played a lot of games against him for Feyenoord, and also plenty of times in the same team for Holland. I know him very well, and all I can say is I’m really looking forward to playing with him at Liverpool. He’s very mature, athletic and fast.

“I believe his whole family is the same and he has a sister who is a top athlete at 100m.”

Much has been made of Babel’s similarity to Thierry Henry, although Kuyt says it will take time before such comparisons are valid.

“He is a friend of Henry, which is why it’s mentioned a lot,” he said. “But the only way to be the same kind of player as him is to work very hard every day.”

Kuyt recognises competition for places in attack will be stronger this season, but feels signs of flourishing partnerships have already been visible in the friendlies.

“I think we’ve all shown we can play together,” said Kuyt. “When you play for a club like Liverpool it’s good to have so much competition. We need four good strikers.”

RYAN BABEL has revealed how he put his Euro 2008 hopes at risk by signing for Liverpool.

The winger, one of the stars of Holland’s success in the Euro Under-21 tournament, said that Holland manager Marco van Basten had tried to persuade him to stay in his home country.

Van Basten told members of the Dutch U21 squad that in order to bolster their chances of making his Euro 2008 squad, then they should stay at home. But Babel decided his £11.5million switch to Anfield was too good an opportunity to turn down.

“Van Basten spoke to the squad before the Under-21 Championships and said it would be best for players to stay in Holland if they wanted to go to Euro 2008,” said the 20-year-old.

“But, if I’m honest, his words did not even enter my mind when Liverpool said they wanted to sign me.

“I spoke to Rafa Benitez and I have enough confidence in my own ability to believe I will play enough games for Liverpool to convince van Basten and go to the finals.”

Babel is part of the Liverpool party that flew into Hong Kong yesterday for the FA Premier League Asia Trophy, which also involves Portsmouth, Fulham and South China.

Liverpool open against South China tomorrow.

Liverpool were greeted by hundreds of their Far East supporters.

Banners in honour of Momo Sissoko and Fernando Torres were prominent while the highest-pitched screams were reserved for Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Benitez. Liverpool were training yesterday before attending a Barclays Reception.

RAFA BENITEZ believes his summer spending spree is already having a galvanising impact on the battle for starting places this season.

The Liverpool boss says the arrival of players of the calibre of Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun is not only improving the quality of the squad, but prompting established stars to raise their game.

Benitez senses many of his stars are working even harder to impress during the pre-season games, and that bodes well for the campaign ahead.

“I’ve said many times my idea at Liverpool was to build a squad with at least two good players for each position,” explained the manager.

“What’s important is that the standard of all these players is now very high. That’s the key for me. Over the course of eight or nine months of the season we will have injuries and suspensions, but when everyone is fit you will see all the players working very hard to be at their best for every game. That means the quality across the whole squad improves.

“Maybe you can see already how hard the players are working.”

Benitez also believes players who arrived at the club last season, such as Jermaine Pennant, have the capacity to step up another level and build on a promising opening campaign.

“It’s too soon to start talking about what players will do this season, but you can see we have players such as Pennant and Benayoun who have the ability to change a game,” said Benitez.

“We know they have the ability to do things on the pitch which others cannot and the key is to see them always trying to make a difference on the pitch. Pennant ended last season very well and has shown some good movements in the games we have played so far. Already a lot of our players are showing their quality.

“But we must be careful when talking about these games. People should remember the players have still trained on the same day as they’ve played in the matches so they are not at their level yet.

“We have seen a lot of positive play already. It’s good for us we are scoring goals and creating a lot of chances, but it’s normal the balance between our defence and attack isn’t what it should be yet. On Tuesday, it was also a very physical game with a good tempo.”

Plans for Brazilian midfielder Lucas to train with the squad in Switzerland have been shelved.

He’ll stay at Melwood with the reserves while the club seeks to resolve his passport problems.

Liverpool play their second Swiss game against Auxerre tomorrow before jetting to Hong Kong.

RYAN BABEL is a class act and if we complete the signing he will go straight into our first team.

I don't understand why people keep saying that he is too young and not worth the money.

The fact is he is a full Dutch international with four goals under his belt and has also scored 14 goals for Ajax in two seasons.

Holland happen to be one of the most attacking teams in Europe and in order to become a regular in their 4-3-3 set up you have to bevery good as he's competing against Kuyt, Van Nistelrooy, Makaay and Huntelaar.

Give the man abreak. He's already proved how good he is.

Dave Smith, Liverpool

I THINK Babel will be fighting with Kewell for a place in the side and I'm a bit surprised by the transfer fee of £10 million for a player I've never heard of.

It's a bit frightening, but I know many people have likened him to Thierry Henry,the way he cuts in from the left wing.

I guess the fact that Rafa has done this quickly and quietly is because he rates him so highly.

Mike Yorke, Aigburth

BABEL is a full Dutch international, so he isn't an untried player by any means.

Once people see him play, they will be saying we got a bargain.

Van Basten believes he can be as good as Henry and that's good enough for me. Other clubs' fans must be gutted we are getting one of the hottest young talents in European football.

Jim Barnett, Bootle

BABEL will be a great squad member. He can score goals, can cross and is a super athlete.

He is not a one-dimensional player and can fill many roles. Remember he is only 21, but is already a hell of a player.

Dutch players always adapt quickly in the Premiership and they can speak English too.

It's very positive to sign a player with great potential who is young and is hungry to win.

Kenny Lomas, Liverpool

IN SOME ways we are taking a chance on Babel. We all want players of proven quality in the Premiership, but who else from the Premiership of that class is available?

The answer is none so we've got to take a chance somewhere.

Dave Poole, Liverpool

I HAVE seen Babel play live and he should be a hit. My only concern is that he is lightweight and could be knocked off the ball easily.

The price is steep for an unproven player but I think he will be a great addition to the squad.

Gary Hulbert, Runcorn

PAYING £10 million for a kid is a big gamble. I know United have done it but they are champions and do not need to improve as much as Liverpool. Buying a kid for the first team is a risk whereas Quaresma has Champions League experience and made a big impact at the highest level.

Barry Cowan, Liverpool

YES Babel is not the finished article but from playing for Holland at the European Under-21 Championships it's clear he has great feet, speed and an eye for goal.

In two to three years players of his calibre will double in their value while we sit back reaping the rewards of showing faith in this unproven player. He could become a real hero.

Bill Downs, Liverpool

QUARESMA is the only player that I have seen that comes any where near Ronaldo.

If we don't buy him then next season we will still be saying that we need players who can win us matches against the lesser teams; someone who can produce something out of nothing. By then it will be too late.

Nick Wrigley, Southport

I'M excited about our signing of Voronin and I think he could prove to be an amazing bargain.

He has good movement, speed, and finishing ability. There are a number of doubters out there, but I wonder just how qualified they are to make assumptions on him or whether it's a knee-jerk reaction to a less well known name.

From what I've seen, he could be the striker that adjusts to the Premiership quickest. He looks like he could handle being kicked to pieces at the Reebok!

Ste Wilson, Anfield

VORONIN will play as a support striker to a main frontman.

I've watched him many times and this is his best role, playing just behind, creating chances and scoring from outside the box.

His positional play is very good and he can make the runs into the box very much like Freddie Ljungberg.

Ron Hargreaves, Liverpool

Babel passes Anfield medical