By Phil McNulty BBC Sport Online chief football writer

Gerard Houllier may not simply be selecting Liverpool's next goalkeeper as he ponders the immediate future of Jerzy Dudek - he may be picking England's successor to David Seaman.

England under-21 goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is waiting for the call to arms for Liverpool's Uefa Cup tie against Vitesse Arnhem after Dudek's latest blunder in the defeat against Fulham.

Poland's Dudek has been outstanding since moving to Liverpool last season, but a dip in form has left Houllier pondering a switch.

Houllier fuels Dudek concern

Kirkland delivered a brilliant performance in the Worthington Cup win against Southampton to increase the pressure on Dudek.

And Houllier admits: "I am well aware that Chris Kirkland has moved up a level. He had a good game against Southampton and is pressing hard for a place."

Southampton boss Gordon Strachan, Kirkland's mentor at Coventry City, said: "There is nobody better than him now, he's as good as anyone, all he needs is a bit of experience."

Dudek lets the ball through his legs against Man Utd

Houllier may use the Vitesse game to ease Kirkland in before making the definitive decision on who faces Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will watch Houllier's deliberations with more than a passing interest as he ponders Seaman's fate.

Seaman is seemingly hell-bent on turning a deaf ear to the calls of Father Time and all sensible voices by clinging on to his England place, despite slowing reflexes and a diminishing reputation.

Kirkland stands alongside Leeds United's Paul Robinson and rejuvenated Everton goalkeeper Richard Wright as the younger generation of pretenders to Seaman's crown.

But the Liverpool goalkeeper's progress has been blocked by Dudek's consistency.

Lack of first-team football has kept him on the fringes of England's plans - but all that may change once Houllier has made his decision.

It will be a major plus for Eriksson's plans if Kirkland becomes Liverpool's first choice, although Houllier will rightly place England's needs low on his list of priorities.

Eriksson's goalkeeping cupboard has looked bare in terms of young talent, but suddenly the outlook is brighter.

Robinson is a Leeds regular, Kirkland may be on the brink of a Liverpool breakthrough - and across Stanley Park at Everton Wright is rebuilding his reputation.

Wright looked unlikely to add to his two England caps when he made an uncertain start at Everton, but he has kept five successive clean sheets in the Premiership as David Moyes' men move into third place.

But for now, Eriksson's eyes will be fixed on Anfield and Houllier's reaction to Dudek's slump.

Houllier, perhaps even more than Eriksson, may have England's goalkeeping plans in his hands.