Steve Bruce praises goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic after goalless draw at Liverpool

Steve Bruce was delighted for Eldin Jakupovic as the goalkeeper kept a clean sheet in a goalless draw at Liverpool.

The Swiss started the season a third-choice at City, but injuries to Allan McGregor and Steve Harper saw him start at Anfield.

And Bruce was particularly impressed with Jakupovic's handling as Hull added a point to the one gained at Arsenal last week.

He said: "I would expect him to make those saves but, to be fair to the kid, he has waited a long time. It is not easy being the third-choice goalkeeper.

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"The corners were raining in from Steven Gerrard and he stood up to the task of it. Maybe 18 months ago he found that a struggle. He will remember that, he has kept a clean sheet at Anfield.

"When you come to Liverpool, like the Emirates last week, you have to make sure you play well. If you play well and take something it is excellent for a club like ours, and where we have been, and what is expected. So we are very pleased with it."

Bruce reserved a word for Mario Balotelli, who missed a late chance to win the game after a week in which he came under fire for that shiirt-swap against Real Madrid.

The Hull boss even revealed Balotelli had agreed to give his shirt to an unnamed visiting player after the game.

"He is going through one of those sticky periods but the kid is a talent," Bruce said. "It is a shame for him. He is the whipping boy.

"But even then he was good-spirited enough to swap shirts. So, one of them have got it, but he did it out of the road of the cameras this time."