Kirkland gets a chance after Dudek blunder

CHRIS KIRKLAND has been told by Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier he will be given a run of matches in the wake of Jerzy Dudek's embarrassing blunder against Manchester United.

Houllier has admitted that he has taken the two goalkeepers aside and explained his future policy.

Now Kirkland will play against Ipswich in the Worthington Cup fourth-round tie at Anfield and be trusted in goal for the crucial run in to the end of 2002, when Liverpool also face vital games against Arsenal, Everton, Newcastle and Blackburn - as well as the UEFA Cup return with Vitesse Arnhem - that could change the course of their season.

Houllier has opted to put Dudek out of his misery and to give England U21 star Kirkland the opportunity to prepare mentally for a spell as Liverpool number one which could also have a major influence on whether he can dislodge David Seaman from the England job.

It is significant that Houllier talks of a run of games for Kirkland because that could continue until England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson names his squad for the next international against Australia at Upton Park in February.

Houllier said: ''Chris deserves a run of games and he will have that now. I spoke to both goalkeepers and told them Chris would get his run, and he will get the same backing I have given to Jerzy.''

Houllier added: ''Chris has shown he is a man by the way he has supported Jerzy; they are friends and room together and everyone is upset for what has happened.

''The support of all the players for him has been immense, but Chris has deserved his chance.

''The mood is two-fold, the players have shared the disappointment that the fans had after the defeat by Manchester United, but at the same time the mood was reassuring because what has happened to Jerzy has epitomised the team ethic and solidarity.

''We will make Jerzy feel that he is not alone, we will support him in this situation.''

Houllier will almost certainly shuffle his pack for the Ipswich game, much the same as he did for the previous round's victory over Southampton.

But he will be without Emile Heskey, who has a swollen ankle, Bruno Cheyrou (groin) and Patrik Berger with a recurrence of his knee problem.

Berger is out for at least three months and has flown to the United States for a scan on the injury.

He is receiving treatment from specialist Dr Richard Steadman, who has looked after several top stars with similar problems.

Houllier rested Michael Owen, Dietmar Hamann, Jamie Carragher, Danny Murphy and Jerzy Dudek in the previous round against Southampton, and similar changes could be made this time,

Houllier may also give run-outs to the likes of Igor Biscan, Gregory Vignal, El Hadji Diouf and youngster Jon Otsemobor.