SAINTS legend Rickie Lambert will NOT be leaving Liverpool this month.

Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew has revealed he enquired about the striker he signed for Saints in the summer of 2009 from Bristol Rovers for £1m.

But he was told Lambert, who has only scored once in the league for Liverpool since joining the Reds last summer – ironically in a 3-1 loss at Palace – is not for sale.

“I did have a conversation with Brendan [Rodgers], but I don't think that Rickie is going anywhere,” said Pardew.

“I think that Rickie wants to stay there and try and win his position. I have no doubt that he can do that.”

Pardew's first Premier League match at the helm saw Palace defeat high-flying Tottenham 2-1 at Selhurst Park, ending an eight-match wait for a top-flight victory, stretching back to November 23.

That win propelled the south Londoners out of the relegation zone but, while understandably delighting the new manager, has not changed his plans for the January window.

He knows he needs a new striker.

Jermain Defoe is another to have been heavily linked with Palace, with bookmakers going as far as to suspend the betting on him joining from Toronto FC.

“Personally, no [I have not enquired about him] but I know Jermain from my West Ham days and I know what he can do,” Pardew said.

“It will be interesting to see if he comes on the market and if he pitches in. He will probably have a couple of choices, I should think.”

Pardew, like predecessor Neil Warnock, knows how important it is to swell the striking options at his disposal.

Frazier Campbell, Marouane Chamakh, Kevin Doyle, Gayle and Murray have scored just seven league goals between them this term, although the latter looks set to become an important figure under Pardew.

Murray's Palace future had looked bleak but, having spent much of the season on loan at Reading, made his first Premier League start of the campaign against Spurs, producing a performance which impressed Pardew.

“He was terrific and he has done himself no harm,” he said.

“He is a good guy. I would be reluctant to let him go back out on loan. I think he might be important until the end of the year.

“He has just that bit of experience and it might have suited him to do the last 20 minutes - when the chance come you know that he has that authority to finish it, so, no, I don't think [signing an experienced striker] is necessary.”