Keeper aims to shut out former club

Photo: Darren Robinson

Athletic ’keepers Dean Bouzanis (right) and Alex Cisak in training.

DEAN Bouzanis is relishing the chance to show Liverpool what they are missing.

The 22-year-old Australian ’keeper spent five-and-a-half years on the Anfield pay roll and then Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez once described him as the best goalkeeper in the world for his age.

Though Bouzanis’s Anfield ambitions stalled, he had displayed enough to tempt Athletic boss Paul Dickov to sign him - and hand him a regular starting place ahead of Alex Cisak.

Now Bouzanis is building himself up for the biggest game of his life.

He said: “It’s amazing, a dream tie for myself against some of my old friends and the chance to play against my old club, which is massive. When I saw the draw I was so happy and it’s great to be involved.”

The chance to take on Liverpool is particularly sweet given Bouzanis was on the substitutes’ bench when the two clubs met at Anfield last year.

“I had only been with Oldham for two or three weeks and had to work my way into the team. But it was a big occasion to go back to Anfield and I found it a great experience.

“For me to hopefully play on Sunday against the club I love will be amazing. The FA Cup is full of shocks and there is no reason why we can’t cause one.

“Things are not going so well at the moment in the league, but the FA Cup is different. It is a one-off and a big occasion. If we were to win, it would be an unbelievable feeling.”