Football: Jones dedicates Liverpool win to tragic son

BLACKBURN, England - Brad Jones dedicated Liverpool's 3-2 win at Blackburn to his son Luca, who died of leukaemia five months ago, after the Australian keeper endured a bitter-sweet Premier League debut for Kenny Dalglish's side on Tuesday.

Jones, third in the pecking order of keepers at Anfield, had only made two senior cup appearances for the club before he was unexpectedly called into action in Liverpool's last game before Saturday's FA Cup semi-final with Everton at Wembley.

Brazilian stopper Alexander Doni was shown a straight red card for bringing down Junior Hoilett and will now miss Liverpool's big game at the weekend.

It leaves 30-year-old Jones in line to face Everton as first-choice Pepe Reina is still serving a ban for getting sent off in a 2-0 defeat at Newcastle on April 1.

Jones pointed to the heavens after saving a penalty from former Middlesbrough team-mate Yakubu just seconds after he went on as a substitute on a night of high drama at Blackburn.

The keeper, whose partner Dani gave birth to a baby boy Nico Luca Jones last week, said: "It has been a difficult 18 months with my son passing away.

"That was for him and for the Liverpool fans, who have been brilliant."

Yakubu went on to score twice, his second from the spot after Jones had needlessly fouled the Nigerian striker, after Maxi Rodriguez gave Liverpool a 2-0 lead.