Westerveld on way out as Houllier names Dudek as his No 1

Jerzy Dudek, one of two goalkeepers signed by Liverpool last week, will be the club's first choice according to the Anfield manager, Gérard Houllier.

The Polish international joined Liverpool for around £4.5m from Feyenoord on Friday, the same day as the club signed Chris Kirkland, the England Under-21 goalkeeper, from Coventry City for a fee which could rise to £8m.

"Jerzy Dudek is a proven international," Houllier said yesterday. "I can confirm he will be the No 1 goalkeeper."

The news is a further blow to the previous first and second choice goalkeepers at Anfield, Sander Westerveld and Pegguy Arphexad, both of whose days at the club suddenly look well and truly numbered.

The Football Association has given the Arsenal defender Martin Keown a one-match ban and a £10,000 fine after he was found guilty of "striking" Mark Viduka during last season's Premiership match with Leeds at Highbury. A second charge against Keown from the same match, for stamping on Lee Bowyer, was not proven.

The FA's video advisory panel has advised that the Tottenham defender Mauricio Taricco should be charged following his two-footed lunge at Everton's Thomas Gravesen, which left the midfielder requiring more than 30 stitches. Gravesen has not played since the incident. Taricco has 14 days to appeal.

Newcastle United will sign the Paris St-Germain centre-half Sylvain Distin today. The French club have agreed to allow Distin to join the Magpies on loan for the rest of the season, with a view to a permanent £4m deal.

Distin favours a move to Newcastle to link up with his friend Laurent Robert, and turned down a transfer to the Premiership leaders, Bolton, who had offered a cash deal.

The South Africa striker Benni McCarthy's proposed loan move to Middlesbrough has fallen through after the parties were unable to agree personal terms.

The Blackburn Rovers manager, Graeme Souness, is set to sign the Millwall midfielder Lucas Neill. The Australian, who can play on the right wing and at full-back, has demanded a transfer from Millwall and is expected to cost around £1m.

Souness is also looking at the Troyes left-back Luciano Zavagno, while the Rovers midfielder Simon Grayson is joining Notts County on loan with a view to a permanent move. Millwall have agreed to take the Middlesbrough midfielder Phil Stamp on loan until he decides whether his future is in south London. The 25-year-old has been stalling over a proposed transfer because his wife is not keen to relocate.

Bradford City's transfer-seeking goalkeeper, Matt Clarke, has agreed terms with Crystal Palace. An initial fee of £1m has been agreed between the clubs for the 27-year-old.

The veteran French goalkeeper Bernard Lama is poised to answer an emergency call from Sunderland.

The Black Cats are without their first choice goalkeeper, Thomas Sorensen, who has a broken nose, and have a doubt over his understudy, Jurgen Macho. Lama could be rushed into the team to face Blackburn on Saturday.

The Charlton defender Richard Rufus will be out of action for six months after damaging knee ligaments at Ipswich last week.