Dudek faces Burnley as Benitez backs under-fire keeper

RAFAEL BENITEZ has thrown his support behind calamity goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek and insisted the Polish international will play in the FA Cup third round tie at Burnley tonight.

Dudek’s howler against Manchester United on Saturday gave Wayne Rooney the winning goal - the third season in succession that Dudek’s errors have presented United with the points at Anfield. However, while Benitez confirmed captain Steven Gerrard and a string of senior team-mates will be rested for the re-arranged match at Burnley, he insisted Dudek will be back in the firing line.

In reality Benitez does not have much choice, because his only alternative is untried third-choice youngster Paul Harrison, and he admitted: “We do not have much money to spend.”

He insisted he is still searching for additions to his squad - and with Chris Kirkland out for weeks, an experienced keeper must be a priority.

However, Dudek will be given the opportunity to rebuild his confidence in what could be a torrid night at Turf Moor.“Dudek will play at Burnley, definitely,” said the manager. “Okay, it was a mistake. The defenders allowed the player to shoot and then we conceded the goal after that, I said afterwards that we should not dwell on one mistake when a player is working hard and well. He is also playing well. When goalkeepers make mistakes it is always more important, when forwards do the same it does not look so bad.

“I said to Jerzy after the game ‘do you think it was a mistake?’ He agreed and I think that is the best way. If you say ‘no, no, no’ it is worse. He is the goalkeeper and we all have to accept mistakes happen. When a forward makes a mistake, it is not always important at the end of the game. With a goalkeeper a mistake is always important. For big clubs against big teams it is even more important, but Jerzy has my confidence, he is working hard and maybe next time there will not be a mistake.”

With the likes of Djibril Cisse, Harry Kewell, Xabi Alonso, Josemi, Kirkland and Steve Finnan all out injured, Benitez is forced to turn to the same youngsters who have taken Liverpool into the Carling Cup semi-finals. He also loses Fernando Morientes and Mauricio Pellegrino who were not registered in time, and he defends the decision to use the kids: “The young players have got us to the Carling Cup semi-final, now we are starting a new competition and we will produce a mix of youth and senior men and we will field a good team because we know the competition is important to the supporters.”

He added: “My priority is to be in the top four in the Premier League. Then to play in the Champions League. After that we can think of the cups, the Carling and now the FA Cup.