Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier hailed the performance of goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek against Vitesse Arnhem, insisting that the Pole's lull in form is now behind him.
A 1-0 victory in Holland ended the Red's worst run for two years, but just as important as the result is the fact that Dudek kept a clean sheet. The Polish goalkeeper has been one of Liverpool's key figures since his move from Feyenoord, but a recent dip in form prompted calls for him to be dropped. However, some fine saves against Arnhem last night signalled a return to form and Houllier was delighted with what he saw.
The Reds' boss said: "I decided to play Dudek after watching him in training here. I told him and Chris Kirkland my decision 24 hours before the game. Chris took it very well, saying that Jerzy didn't deserve to be left out. It is a mark of a great character that Jerzy kept a clean sheet, and he saved us at the end with some important stops."
"When you are going through the sort of patch we have been in, you need results like this to rebuild confidence. This sort of performance will work in our favour in the games ahead. We had gone four without a win and it was good to see the side back on the right winning track again," he added.
Houllier's focus will now turn to Sunday's crunch FA Premiership match with Manchester United. However, the Frenchman's preparations for that game have been dealt by a blow with the news that Bruno Cheyrou will be out for at least a fortnight following the groin injury which forced him off after just 10 minutes of last night's victory.
Fled by Rob Wright
