Soccer: Westerveld is Cardiff's first choice

Sander Westerveld's position as first choice keeper for Sunday's Worthington

Cup Final has been confirmed by Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier.

The French coach has corrected the misunderstanding that Westerveld may have

to step aside to allow number two Pegguy Arphexad to play in Cardiff against

Birmingham City.

Dutchman Westerveld even had to have talks with Houllier to make sure there

was no agreement that Arphexad would play in the final.

The confusion has arisen following fanciful suggestions that Arphexad has a

clause in his contract, or there was a gentleman's agreement when he joined last

summer from Leicester, that he would play in Worthington Cup ties.

Houllier said: ``I am not confused about the situation, that has been caused

by other people. There is no clause in Pegguy's contract saying he plays in

Worthington Cup ties, of course there's not.''

``I have asked the boss about the situation, just to make sure there was no

such agreement,'' said Westerveld.

When Arphexad joined on a free transfer as back-up to Westerveld he was told

that Worthington Cup ties would be his chance of occasional first team games, as

many second choice goalkeepers do around the country.

Houllier said: ``Pegguy would have played in more Worthington Cup ties but he

got injured, and since then Sander has kept him out. It would now be very hard

to deprive Sander of a place in the final side, he deserves it. He has, in fact,

played more games now in the competition that Pegguy.''