Embarrassing blunders: Some more goalkeeping howlers

Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek's howler at Anfield yesterday was just one in a long list of similiar blunders by some of the game's top keepers.

PETER ENCKELMAN (Aston Villa)

(Birmingham 3 Aston Villa 0, FA Premiership, September 16th, 2002)

With his team trailing 1-0 at St Andrew's, the goalkeeper's lazy attempt to control Olof Mellberg's throw-in from the left saw the ball take the slightest of touches off Enckelman's boot and roll over the line. Villa boss Graham Taylor criticised his goalkeeper for not knowing the rules - a goal cannot be scored direct from a throw-in unless it is touched by another player - as had Enckelman not played the ball the result would have been a corner to Birmingham.

PAUL JONES (Southampton)

(West Brom 1 Southampton 0, Premiership, September 14th, 2002)

With the sides seemingly deadlocked with just 10 minutes to go, West Brom midfielder Sean Gregan tried a speculative shot from outside the area which appeared to lack the power or precision to beat Jones. However, as the 'keeper stooped to collect, the ball somehow bobbled past the unfortunate Jones and trickled into the net for the only goal of the game.

DAVID SEAMAN (England)

(England 1 Brazil 2, World Cup quarter-final, June 21st, 2002)

Michael Owen had given England the lead but Sven-Goran Eriksson's side were on the back foot going into the second half after Rivaldo scored on the stroke of half-time. Five minutes after the interval Paul Scholes conceded a free-kick 35-yards out and Ronaldinho's kick drifted over the stranded Seaman and into the net to end England's World Cup dream.

FABIEN BARTHEZ (Manchester United)

(Man United 2 Deportivo La Coruna 3, Champions League, October 18th, 2001)

Ruud Van Nistelrooy had given United a well-deserved early lead only for the game to be turned on its head by a farcical misunderstanding between Barthez and central defender Wes Brown. As Brown shepherded the ball back to his 'keeper both men shunned the ball and allowed Sergio to tap home. The Frenchman's woe was compounded when, at 2-2, he needlessly charged from his area to intercept a ball Brown already had covered only to slide harmlessly past and allow Diego Tristan to float the ball into an unguarded net.

SANDER WESTERVELD (Liverpool)

(Bolton 2 Liverpool 1, Premiership, August 27th, 2001)

With the match looking destined to end in stalemate, Bolton's Dean Holdsworth let fly with a speculative shot from 30 yards. It should have been an easy save for an international goalkeeper of Westerveld's calibre but the ball squirmed under his body and into the back of the net. days later Liverpool signed two new goalkeepers - Jerzy Dudek and Chris Kirkland.

DIDA (AC Milan)

(Leeds 1 AC Milan 0, Champions League, September 19th, 2000)

With two minutes left midfielder Lee Bowyer let fly with an all-or-nothing shot from 35 yards which Dida appeared to have covered. But at a rain-lashed Elland Road, the Brazilian dropped the greasy ball between his legs and it squirmed over the line.

DAVID JAMES (Aston Villa)

(Chelsea 1 Aston Villa 0, FA Cup Final, May 20th, 2000)

Just a few days after being recalled to the England squad, James reverted to the ways which earned him the tag of Calamity James when at Liverpool. When Gianfranco Zola swung over a free-kick with 18 minutes to go, James flapped at the ball amid a crowd of players, pushed it onto Gareth Southgate's chest and Roberto di Matteo shot home from four yards out to win the FA Cup for Chelsea.

MASSIMO TAIBI (Manchester United)

(Man United 3 Southampton 3, Premiership, September 25th, 1999)

There appeared little danger when Matt Le Tissier hit a gentle daisy cutter from 25 yards out six minutes into the second half, but somehow Taibi - a £4.5 million summer signing from Reggina - missed the ball and it trickled through his legs and over the line. The Italian was soon back in Italy.

DAVID SEAMAN (Arsenal)

(Real Zaragoza 2 Arsenal 1, European Cup Winners' Cup Final, May 10th, 1995)

Holders Arsenal were just 10 seconds away from a penalty shoot-out when Nayim produced a goal of pure fantasy to win the Cup Winners' Cup for the Spaniards. The ball dropped to the former Tottenham star fully 45 yards from goal and tight to the touchline. But Nayim had spotted Seaman stranded in no-man's land at the edge of his penalty area and chipped an outrageous shot over the back-pedalling keeper, and into the net.