Dudek is facing baptism of fire

Liverpool goalkeeper coach Joe Corrigan admits that new Anfield No.1 Jerzy Dudek faces a big test when he takes on the physical challenge of the Premiership against Aston Villa on Saturday.

Dudek, 28, signed from Feyenoord for £4.85million last week, has been confirmed by Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier as his first choice and is rushing back from World Cup duty with Poland in Belarus to prepare for his debut.

Corrigan said:'The Premiership is different to other European football, and that applies especially for goalkeepers. Some people may say there's a risk in bringing a foreign goalkeeper to the club and in some ways that may be true, but I am confident he will adapt to our game.'

Marc Overmars has accused Liverpool of 'madness' for dropping his Dutch international team-mate Sander Westerveld in favour of Dudek and the other new signing, Chris Kirkland.

Overmars said: 'Have you ever heard of a player helping to win his side a historic treble and then get dumped?'