Benitez faces goalkeeper dilemma

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez is facing a goalkeeping dilemma going into the crucial festive programme.

Benitez was hoping that Jerzy Dudek would put pressure on the injured Chris Kirkland with a commanding performance last night. Instead the Poland shot-stopper appeared to be at fault for Portsmouth’s equaliser which came a minute into stoppage time.

He palmed a cross from substitute Matthew Taylor into the path of Lomana LuaLua, who headed home from close range.

It was Dudek’s first league appearance since September. He was dropped after the narrow Champions League defeat by Olympiakos in Greece.

Whether he will keep his place on Sunday against Newcastle remains to be seen as the extent of Kirkland’s back problem has not been revealed.

However, it is clear both men are short of confidence and that must be a cause for concern for Benitez. Bad habits between the posts have caused a ripple effect throughout the team.

Liverpool have become vulnerable at the back and have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine games. Benitez said: “That is a pity. We will try and get things right. What we are doing is creating a lot of opportunities. However, we need to turn those chances into goals.”

The Spanish coach remains upbeat even though his side trail leaders Chelsea by a massive 15 points and one wonders where they would be without dynamic captain Steven Gerrard.

He capped a superb display at Anfield with a thunderbolt 25-yard effort with 20 minutes to go. Liverpool travel to Chelsea on New Year’s Day but before then face West Brom and Southampton in addition to Newcastle.

Benitez said: “If you look at the table we have gained one point and closed the gap on the top four teams. I accept it is a bad situation losing two points at home but it is not the worst.

“The players are frustrated but we will return to training and focus on our next game and put this one behind us.”

Benitez is intent on improving Liverpool’s attacking muscle by deploying Harry Kewell and Antonio Nunez on the flanks.

“Both of them are specialist wingers and I think you can see they are giving us more offensive options,” he said. “They are working well with our strikers.”