Euro glory can relieve Liverpool's pain in the Arsenal

As déjà vu sets in and Liverpool fall to Arsenal twice in four days and for the third time this season, one has to ponder on the mindset of Rafael Benitez. Has the French professor [Arsene Wenger] got the measure of him?

The wisdom in fielding a lightweight squad going into one of Liverpool's last few opportunities of silverware this season has to be questioned. The most startling inclusion has to be Jerzy Dudek, who, Istanbul heroics aside, has somehow forgotten the art of saving goals. Today, if he decided to end his misery by diving in front of a bus, I’m pretty sure even the bus would slip though his fingers.

Benitez is a man of his word, and he promised Dudek he’d play him in the domestic Cups. Very expensive promises they turned out to be as the keeper flapped his way out of the hearts of the Kop. I think it is safe to say that Liverpool need a new, improved second-choice keeper, someone who would be able to keep Pepe Reina on his toes, someone to challenge him for the Number 1 jerzy (excuse the pun). Something Dudek seems incapable of, judging by recent form.

Another problem seems to be the huge gap between the first team and reserves. Somehow the youngsters seem out of depth when called up for first-team action. This is something Wenger seems to have mastered, as all his young charges seem well equipped for the transition from the youth squad. This is something the Liverpool staff should be aspiring to.