Carson Part of First Team

[SouthAfricaRed]

England Under-21 goalkeeper Scott Carson will be part of Liverpool's first team squad next season.

Carson, who had a spell on loan at relegated Charlton, is expected to push Jose Reina for a place in the starting line-up.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has been pleased with the former Leeds goalkeeper's progress.

'I was speaking to Scott recently and I told him he will be part of our first team squad next season,' Benitez told the club's official website.

'He must fight with Pepe Reina now for a starting place. We knew when we fought off Chelsea to sign him he was a talented goalkeeper.

'He got some good experience last season and now he is coming back to us.'

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...440748&cc=5739

[tommyg]

he's got no chance.

[Zapater]

Well, it's sad that a player of his quality is going to be stuck on the bench, maybe we can find him an odd game here and there and get the FA and Carling Cups.

[rage]

not a chance in hell. I'd sell him now for 5 to 6 million whilst his 'i'm english and worth +30%' value is in demand. Come on tbh he's carrying too much weight, slow off his line and as for penalties..

[almudawi]

I think that he should quit moaning and challenge Pepe for what he's worth ! This comes with the territory and surely he knew that when he signed for us ! Or was he after the English team spot all along ?

[Morph]

he's a good qulaity keeper, and a very competent backup for Reina, saves us having to buy another keeper this year and if he wants off next season then fair enough we hopefully wont have that many signings to make and we'll be able to spend a bit of time looking at a good replacement

[lfc_michael]

He won't dislodge Reina, but he's too good for the bench. I was puzzled by his signing, really. Rafa clearly wasn't going to pitch him in as Dudek's replacement for 2005/6, so it was never clear what his role would be. Maybe it was just that we could get a decent player for a good price.

[Roboklopp]

I'd promise him the domestic cup games if I was Rafa....and hope he does a hell of a lot better than the Dude did this season...

[Eth]

I'm very happy to have SC challenging Pepe - he's young and very capable of covering Pepe when we need him. I think that Rafa will use him in some of the quieter games as I think its important to have a keeper thats used to the back four in front of him should he need to be there for an extended period.

[dww]

To be honest I like to have a backup keeper who I wouldn't have hearta ttacks if they had to be called on for an extended period. Just look what happened to Chelsea last season when admittedly both their good keepers were out.

I'm not sure it is possible to be too good for the bench at a big club in a lot of ways, especially at his age. The chance of playing in big games is much more likely as our number two than the number one in a lower-mid table premiership team as there is no way we would sell him to a direct rival.

[donpisci]

I think it's good we've got such a promising keeper as our back-up. Not only will it push Reina a lot more, if he has an injury or a drop in form, we won't be in as dire a position as what we have been in previous seasons.

Plus, it makes the world of difference having a keeper the defence has confidence in, so we would look a lot less shaky than when Dudek would play!

[nobbylad]

Exactly, no-one can be sure Pepe won't get injured this season and we need someone who's capable as back up.