Liverpool's second choice goalkeeper was sent off in tonight's mini-derby at Everton's home reserve ground, the Halton Stadium. Liverpool lost the game 2-1.
According to reports the sending off was rather harsh, coming after Jerzy ran out of patience with Everton's Victor Anichebe. The final straw seems to have been when Anichebe flew at Dudek with studs showing and Dudek and Anichebe "squared up" to each other. Anichebe was merely booked, with Dudek given a straight red.
The most unfortunate side to this sending off is that Jerzy will now be suspended for three games for the first team, meaning fourth-choice keeper David Martin will have to take his place on the bench for the games against Blackburn, Manchester United and Aston Villa. Jerzy's rival for the role of second-choice keeper is Scott Carson who's out on loan at the moment to gain some valuable first-team experience. It's unclear how easy it would be to recall Carson in light of Dudek's potential absence. We say potential because there's a possibility that the Reds will appeal against the red card.
One positive to come out of the game was that Nabil El Zhar scored his first ever Liverpool goal, which came from the spot after he was brought down in the area. Team-mate Bolo Zenden also got awared a penalty, which he took himself, but missed.
Summer signing Gabriel Paletta played the full game, with Fabio Aurelio playing the first half. There was a full 90-minute run-out for both Zenden and Warnock.
Liverpool team: Dudek, Smith, Warnock, Antwi, Paletta, Mannix, Flynn (Martin, 60), Zenden, El Zhar, Guthrie, Aurelio (Threlfall, 45)
Unused subs: Hobbs, Roque, Darby.
For a full report on the game see the official LFC site: www.liverpoolfc.tv. There's also a promise of a full report tomorrow on the website of The Liverpool Way, who have a brief report on the site already: TLW. TLW send someone to every reserve game and provide a good alternative view of how Rafa's younger signings are progressing.