Chris Kirkland

Chris Kirkland (2 May 1981, Leicester) is an English football goalkeeper, he is currently on loan to West Bromwich Albion F.C. from Liverpool F.C.

Related Topics:
2 May - 1981 - Leicester - English - Football - Goalkeeper - West Bromwich Albion F.C. - Liverpool F.C.

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Kirkland shot to prominence as one of the most promising young English keepers in the country in the 2000-01 season, while with his first club, Coventry City. He was bought by Liverpool for £6m on transfer deadline day at the start of the 2001-02 season, as backup for the Reds' other new signing, Jerzy Dudek.

Related Topics:
2000-01 season - Coventry City - 2001-02 season - Jerzy Dudek

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Injury to Dudek gave Kirkland his debut in the first team, against Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League, but he had to wait until the following season for his first run in the team. Costly errors by Dudek in a league fixture against Manchester United handed the jersey to Kirkland for 14 matches, during which he kept 6 clean sheets. However, Kirkland was then himself injured, and a succession of recurring problems has seen him only make sporadic appearances since then.

Related Topics:
Galatasaray - UEFA Champions League - Manchester United

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He has won 6 caps with the England under-21 team, and has been selected for the senior squad, but has not yet made an appearance.

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As of October 2004, Kirkland has found himself with the chance to make an impact on the fortunes of Liverpool and England, having presently ousted his friend Jerzy Dudek as first-choice Liverpool 'keeper. His good form and lack of injury was seen as welcome news for Liverpool and England fans.

Related Topics:
October - 2004 - Injury - Fans

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2005, however, did not start well for Kirkland, with his Liverpool career once again interrupted by injury. Having begun his Anfield career as the future England Number 1, a series of ineffective performances for the Reds, coupled with a string of injuries, had meant that Kirkland had slipped down the goaslkeeping pecking order behind Jerzy Dudek and Scott Carson.

Related Topics:
Jerzy Dudek - Scott Carson

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In the summer of 2005 Kirkland agreed to go on a season-long loan to West Brom, following Liverpool's purchase of another goalkeeper, in order to kick-start his career again. This move bore immediate fruit for Kirkland as he was called up to replace the increasingly accident prone David James in the England squad.

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