KEEPER CALAMITY
More bad news for Dalglish — the last time Reina’s deputy played a major match in England he let in SEVEN goals . . .
IT WAS one of the most spectacular nights in Manchester United’s European history, an evening when free-flowing football created a glut of goals.
But for the man who has been entrusted with the task of filling Pepe Reina’s gloves in the FA Cup semi-final, the night United beat Roma 7-1 at Old Trafford in April 2007 remains one of the most painful of his career.
At a time when Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish needs all hands to the pump, he must hope that Alexander Doni’s next competitive appearance in British football — which will come this weekend against Aston Villa — is as far removed from his last as possible.
The Brazilian goalkeeper will play in Liverpool’s next three games after the Anfield club yesterday decided to allow the 1pm deadline set by the FA to pass without appealing the red card Reina received in Sunday’s demoralising 2-0 defeat at Newcastle.
Barring a 57-minute appearance in a friendly against Glasgow Rangers last October, which ended with him dislocating a finger, Doni has not played for Liverpool in a competitive match since joining them from Roma. And he has even questioned whether he will be at Anfield next season.
Doni, 32, told Brazilian radio station Radio Sport Mana Mana: ‘Next year, I do not know where I will play. Being on the bench is not great.
‘Liverpool have changed so much and there have been lots of ups and downs.’ Dalglish can ill-afford for there to be any more downs and losing Reina — who has played in every minute of every game in the 14 months the Scot has been back at the club — is a savage blow, not least as the comfort he shows on the ball fills his defenders with confidence.
To suggest that Doni is an accident waiting to happen, however, would be unfair.
He won the Coppa Italia twice with Roma and his penalty saves in the shootout against Uruguay in the 2007 Copa America semi-final provided the platform for Brazil to win the tournament.
Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates said: ‘Alexander has played for Brazil, one of the greatest national teams in the world, so he is used to big games and I am sure he will do really well.
‘ He hasn’t had an opportunity because obviously we have Pepe, but he will do well.
‘I think he will make the most of every opportunity that’s given to him.’
Reina is unlikely to be fined for his indiscretion at the Sports Direct Arena. Newcastle defender James Perch fell to the ground holding his head following an argument with the Liverpool goalkeeper in his area.
Andy Carroll is also set to escape punishment for the petulant way he reacted to being substituted.