June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
August 2009
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
December 2009
January 2010
February 2010
March 2010
April 2010
May 2010
June 2010
July 2010

Who says second choice goalkeepers are not important? They obviously are! They are almost as important as the first choice! They are usually not rated as highly, but most of the time, when they are called upon with the first choice injured or suspended, they usually deliver, even with such short notice. These are the goalkeeping understudies since Rafa Benitez took over in 2004, most being the understudy of current number one Jose Reina (years show the period when second-choice):

• Scott Carson 2004-2005
  his biggest low
  

The then-teenage shot stopper was signed from Leeds United for £1 million in January 2005. Tall with an imposing figure, Carson became then-first choice Jerzy Dudek's understudy. He was an unused sub in the 2005 Champions League final win. Carson has also halfway fulfilled the potential many had of him as a future England number one, with his debut against that important qualifier against Croatia. However it did not get off to a great start, as a blunder early in the game set Croatia off towards a 3-2 victory at Wembley. He is still dubbed as the next England number one. Currently still on the books of Liverpool, he is expected to leave in his bid for a permanent club that offers him regular football, in a bid to strengthen his international prospects. The likes of Aston Villa, Hull City and West Brom are in the hunt, but will have to pay around £10 million for his services.

• Jerzy Dudek 2005-2007
  his finest hour

After signing for Liverpool with a fee of around £5 million in 2001, Dudek saved Andriy Shevchenko's decisive penalty against Milan on that night in Istanbul. Since then up till the summer of 2006, it was not enough as Jose Reina was signed by Rafa Benitez, and hence Dudek finished his Liverpool career on the bench, with a couple of appearances in dead-rubber games and English cups. His fast reflexes made him Liverpool's number one for around 5 years, fighting off competition from the likes of Chris Kirkland and Scott Carson. Signing on for Real Madrid in 2007 as understudy to Iker Casillas, he has only made one La Liga and five Copa del Rey appearances.

• Charles Itandje 2007-08
  

off to Turkey





He was signed by Rafa Benitez in 2007 to act as Jose Reina's understudy. He made his debut against Reading in the League Cup, but failed to impress as a couple of blunders led to him conceding 2 goals in Liverpool's 4-2 win. He fared better against Chelsea in the League Cup as well, unlucky to concede the first goal to Frank Lampard's deflected shot. Since then, he has not made any Premier League or Champions League appearance, leaving at the end of the season for Galatasary for a fee of £2 million.

• Diego Cavalieri 2008-present

The Brazilian goalkeeper recently signed for Liverpool in a £3 million from Palmeiras, after making more than 100 appearances for the Brazilian club. His move will apparently push Scott Carson out of the club. He had been linked to a move to various Italian and Spanish clubs, before signing for the Reds. He should do well in the cup games handed to him by Rafa Benitez, and hope to displace Jose Reina as Liverpool's number one.




So Liverpool's first game of the new season starts in pre-season with a friendly against Tranmere Rovers of League One, and already Rafa Benitez is keeping his promise to give the youngsters a chance. The starting eleven is as follows:


It's good to see that Spanish starlet Pacheco is getting a chance, along with local boys Martin and Darby. Hobbs, Insua and Plessis continue off from the time they got their Premiership debut apperances. Those that didn't go to the EURO08 like Skrtel, Carragher, Pennant and Benayoun will want to get their fitness back, and so desperately too, Daniel Agger, who will look like a new signing, bolstering Liverpool's strong backline. As only 10 substitutes are made, most of the players will get a fair amount of playing time. It would be good to see new-signing Cavalieri not play yet, giving Martin the whole game, while Kelly, Spearing and Flynn will hopefully feature at some point, so too Voronin and Degen, who would want to prove themselves, even so early and against such opposition. Comfortable win for Liverpool?

Bye~!

Lenny
Joseph
Hua Peng
Sei Yee
Kelvin Kartoyo
Melvin
Seng Yew
Samuel C
Celeste
Mark

Liverpool FC
iMedia
09S23!