Kirkland ready to challenge Dudek

Chris Kirkland will not play against Manchester United on Monday – but is returning to full fitness to put pressure on Jerzy Dudek for the Liverpool goalkeeper spot.

Boss Rafael Benitez went to Wrexham on Thursday to see Kirkland’s comeback in goal for the reserves in their 1-0 win over Sunderland.

It was the 23-year-old’s first full game of the season after recovering from a back problem. He was surprisingly restored to the bench on Wednesday for the Champions League win over Monaco and will be there again at Old Trafford.

Benitez insists it is “too early” for Kirkland to take Dudek’s place, but the Poland international is now just one poor game – or one mistake – away from losing his first-team spot to the youngster.

The former Coventry stopper has been tipped as a future England number one but injuries over the past two seasons have hampered his progress. However, whenever he is fit, England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson always calls him up for his squad.

With David James dropped because of his error against Austria and Paul Robinson installed in his place, Kirkland knows he has to be playing to establish his England claims.

Getting into Liverpool’s side will help, and he could mount a challenge next weekend for the home game with Norwich.

Benitez says: “I have watched Chris but it is too early for him to play at Old Trafford. But it is not important which players play, it is the team that is the most important.”

Benitez’s most pressing decision at Old Trafford will again be who plays in central midfield, with Dietmar Hamann left out against Monaco in midweek to allow Xabi Alonso a starring role in the 2-0 win.

“We have five players for two midfield roles, Hamann, Gerrard, Alonso, Salif Diao and Igor Biscan,” said Benitez.

“It is good for the team that I have such options. Gerrard has played well with Hamann, and also with Alonso. The choice I will make will depend very much on the opposition.”

But the Anfield boss is happy with having selection dilemmas ahead of one of football’s greatest rivalries.

And he added: “I know that everyone is now saying that this game with Manchester United is the biggest for me so far.

“All I hope is that in the future people are asking me the same question about other matches because that will mean we are doing well and challenging for the title.

“But now I know this is very, very important. We have won in the Champions League and we now face a big club with great players and a great manager, and obviously we want to do well.

“It is similar for me to facing Barcelona or Real Madrid while I was with Valencia. It is a similar rivalry.”

But he added: “Everyone says to me that this game is very, very important and I understand that. But for me it is just three points I want to win and we will try to do that.

“If it is against a big club, that is better for us, but I do not want to really discuss the rivalry.”

Florent Sinama-Pongolle is likely to be left out at Old Trafford with an ankle injury sustained in the reserve fixture.