Liverpool have granted Premiership rivals Portsmouth permission to open talks with striker Peter Crouch, the Reds said on Monday. "We have reached a verbal agreement with Portsmouth and have given them permission to speak with Peter," a Liverpool spokesman told the club's website. The agreement comes after Liverpool's initial rejection to a ₤9M for the England striker last month. Crouch struggled to find his place in Rafa Benitez's selection last season, which saw Fernando Torres dazzling with the team.