Chris Kirkland : GoalkeeperDate of Birth: 02/05/1981
Birthplace: Leicester
Debut : v Grimsby Town. October 9th 2001. Worthington Cup 3rd round, lost 2-1
1st team games: 45
1st team goals: 0
Other clubs: -
International caps while with Liverpool: -
International goals while with Liverpool: -
Honours with Liverpool: -
PROFILE
To say Chris Kirkland's time at Anfield is a tale of what could have been would be an understatement.
He was signed by Gerard Houllier from Coventry City on the last day of August 2001, and was recognised by many football pundits as one of the best young goalkeeper's to emerge in England for a while, but he suffered terrible misfortune with injury.
A troublesome back injury denied him a chance to become the regular number one at Anfield and he also suffered other injury problems.
Kirkland was part of a double goalkeeper deal that also saw Houllier bring Jerzy Dudek to the club. His big chance at Anfield arrived in the 2002/03 season when was given a chance when Dudek's form dipped. In a bad spell for the team Kirkland was the shining light at the end of the tunnel and produced some high standard displays. Unfortunately bad luck was just around the corner and a bad ankle injury sustained in an FA Cup tie at Crystal Palace in January 2003 saw him ruled out for the season.
He then returned briefly only to find himself on the sidelines again after breaking both his finger wrist respectively in a freak training ground collision.
Despite the bad misfortune he did play in a game that will live forever long in the memory banks at Anfield. Kirkland was part of the team that produced a fantastic comeback in the Champions League when the Reds beat Olympiacos 3-1 at Anfield in December 2004.
He left Liverpool in 2006 for Wigan Athletic and went on to win his first England cap.
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