Spot of luck lifts Liverpool

Liverpool 1 Ipswich 1

(AET: Liverpool win 5-4 on penalties)

Gerard Houllier sprang a major surprise by handing Jerzy Dudek a Worthington Cup reprieve just 24 hours after announcing that Liverpool's error-prone goalkeeper faced a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

The manager's shock about-turn caught everyone unawares, not least the matchday programme staff who put together his notes under the heading A Word With The Boss.

Reflecting on the calamitous error that gifted Manchester United their lead in Liverpool's 2-1 Anfied defeat on Sunday, Houllier wrote: 'Whatever would have happened against United, Chris Kirkland had been down to play against Ipswich tonight. Chris played in the previous round, and it had already been decided that he would figure strongly in some of our cup matches.'

It is understood Dudek and Kirkland were called together yesterday afternoon and informed of a late change of mind that applied only to last night's fourth round visit of Joe Royle ' s First Division side.

Kirkland was assured that, regardless of how Dudek fared, the Pole's reprieve would be temporary and that Liverpool's £6million signing from Coventry would finally be given the chance to nail down a regular Premiership place at Charlton on Saturday.

Dudek looked edgy in the early stages, despite the home crowd trying to lift his spirits. He badly mishit an attempted clearance for a corner in the third minute and was involved in a mix-up with Igor Biscan that led to another Ipswich flag-kick soon after.

The save that might have settled his nerves was still proving elusive when Ipswich snatched a 14thminute lead, courtesy of yet another defensive lapse. At least Dudek could not be faulted this

time as Darren Bent latched on to a Jermaine Wright ball down the right and his low cross caught Markus Babbel in two minds.

The Liverpool defender neither controlled nor cleared the ball and could only look on helplessly as it fell for the lurking Tommy Miller to fire home from close range.

In another psychological ploy, Houllier tried to rouse Steven Gerrard from his recent lacklustre form by naming him captain. There was little evidence of it paying off, though, as Liverpool laboured for a way through and were restricted to a Vladimir Smicer drive that Andy Marshall saved with his legs.

Debutant Neil Mellor finally made an impact as he earned the 54th-minute penalty that brought Liverpool level. Defender Mark Venus was trying to usher a Gerrard through-ball out of play when Mellor appeared on the right of the area. In desperation, Venus stuck out a boot but only succeeded in tripping the youngster.

Mellor looked eager to take the kick until stand-in skipper Gerrard ruled that the responsibility should go to El Hadji Diouf - a decision that paid off when Diouf scored with a low shot to the Marshall's right.

Mellor almost marked his debut with a goal barely 60 seconds later, beating Marshall with a drive that bounced back off the foot of a post.

Ipswich almost stole it when substitute Jim Magilton hit the post with a late header.

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