Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has heaped praise on Jerzy Dudek just days after a howler by the Polish goalkeeper cost them a 2-1 league defeat to Manchester United.
Though reserve keeper Chris Kirkland is still set to take over after Dudek's costly fumble against United, the Pole helped his side to a 5-4 win on penalties over Ipswich Town in Wednesday's League Cup fourth round.
PHOTO: AFP
"I made the decision to play Jerzy on Sunday night after the United game," Houllier told reporters after their victory at Anfield.
"I even kept it away from my assistant Phil Thompson that I wanted to play Jerzy. The best way to recover from a bad patch is to play games.
"They say when you have a car crash for example the advice is to get back into the car as soon as possible and drive. I thought the best way was to play him tonight and he responded.
"He kept us in the game in the first half and if we had gone 2-0 down God knows what would have happened. He also made a great save in the second half. It was a bit of psychology playing Jerzy and he did very well."
Houllier also paid tribute to the fans who chanted Dudek's name throughout the match against Ipswich, four days after his mistake against United allowed Diego Forlan to score.
"The fans deserve special credit tonight for the way they supported Jerzy. They were brilliant and I want to thank them. It was very emotional.
"Last year when I was recovering from illness I watched the Liverpool v Manchester United game on TV and I saw the mosaic on the Kop which is a moment I will never forget.
"One other moment I will always remember now is the way the fans welcomed Jerzy when he came on. They supported him and supported the whole team."
Houllier said on Tuesday that Kirkland would be taking over for a few matches from Dudek, who has made a series of errors in recent weeks.
"Chris deserves a run of games and he will have that now," said Houllier, whose men travel to Charlton Athletic for a premier league game tomorrow.
Chelsea stays home, hammers Everton
Chelsea hammered Everton 4-1 to claim a place in the League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday, while Fulham suffered embarrassment at the hands of second division Wigan Athletic.
Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored twice and Everton's teenage sensation Wayne Rooney had a penalty saved in a one-sided all-premier league clash at Stamford Bridge.
Wigan's prolific striker Nathan Ellington netted both their goals as the division two leaders saw off premier league visitors Fulham 2-1.
Another premier league side, Aston Villa, were untroubled by first division Preston North End, romping to a 5-0 win at Villa Park.
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