Houllier said: "I decided to play Dudek after watching him in training. I told him and Chris Kirkland my decision 24 hours before the game.
"And Chris took it very well, saying that Jerzy didn't deserve to be left out.
"I told Chris that when his time comes he will remember how I supported Jerzy in a difficult position, and he'll take comfort from that.
"But it is a mark of a great character that Jerzy kept a clean sheet, and he saved us at the end with some important stops."