Champions League:Rafael Benitez is to offer a rare glimpse of sentimentality by selecting Jerzy Dudek for Liverpool's final Champions League group game against Galatasaray at the scene of the Pole's finest hour.
The Merseysiders return to the Ataturk Stadium next month with memories of the 2005 final in the arena still fresh. AC Milan, leading 3-0 at half-time, were pegged back, then Dudek's heroics in goal proved decisive. He made a double save from Andriy Shevchenko three minutes from the end of extra-time, then denied Andrea Pirlo and, decisively, the Ukrainian again in the penalty shoot-out, which Liverpool won 3-2.
Dudek has rarely played since, after the arrival of Jose Reina from Villarreal, but Benitez will select the 33-year-old Polish international against Galatasaray. Dudek, however, remains circumspect. "You never know if you are going to play or not," he said after Liverpool won Group C on Wednesday with a 2-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven. "It would bring back fantastic memories to be back in Istanbul at that stadium, but we will see."
Liverpool expect Jermaine Pennant to be fit for tomorrow's visit of Manchester City after he suffered spasms in his hamstrings. Mark Gonzalez is expected to be absent for up to a month with a torn hamstring, and Xabi Alonso is likely to be missing tomorrow after suffering a dead leg.
Benitez has called on his captain Steven Gerrard to shoulder the responsibility of leading Liverpool to glory despite the club's injury nightmare. Gerrard, who gave his best display of a disrupted season, in a central midfield role against PSV, has rarely missed a chance to state a preference for where he plays.
He was quick to point out after the victory against the Dutch champions: "It goes without saying that I enjoy playing in central midfield. It's my favourite position and where I like to play."
But now he is back in the role he wants, Benitez will demand even more from him. The Spaniard said: "Now it is clear that he must take more responsibility in midfield with Momo Sissoko and Xabi Alonso both out injured.
"He must take that responsibility and say 'I'm here, give me the ball and I will score'. Now we hope for all these things from our captain."
Guardian Service
