Out-of-favour goalkeeper Sander Westerveld has admitted his future lies away from Anfield after being told he is now only third-choice keeper at Liverpool. The Dutch international has been relegated in the pecking order by Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier after a string of high-profile errors and following the double signing of Feyenoord's Jerzy Dudek and Chris Kirkland from Coventry, he has decided he has no other choice but to ask for a transfer.
Houllier has confirmed that Westerveld's account of the events surrounding the arrival of these new keepers is wide of the mark. "I told Sander and I repeated it to his agent that I was considering signing a new goalkeeper. I said that either Sander succeeds himself and becomes a better goalkeeper or I would buy a new one because I want to win the title," he explained.
Following these comments, Westerveld has made the decision to ask for a move elsewhere. "We have spoken with each other and we both have a completely different opinion about the matter. There was no point in talking any further. Liverpool is moving on with two other keepers and I will be looking for a new club," he explained.
Although Houllier admitted his heart goes out to the dumped keeper, he feels he made the right decision for the club. "If you want to win the title you need someone who is consistent. Goalkeepers are not assessed on the number of saves that they make, but on how few mistakes they make and the number of points that they win for you. I wanted to improve an area I think needed improving. I will do that in any area of the team," added the Frenchman. "I have read about these promises I was supposed to have made. I can tell you I never made any promises to any player. It is not a manager's job to promise a player he will always be in the team."
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
