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Dalglish gears up for emotional derby at Anfield
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is gearing up for an emotional return to Anfield for the Merseyside derby and is hoping his players would rediscover a confidence to match the buzz in the city.
The Scot’s reappointment at the team he brought huge success to as a player and manager has lifted fans’ spirits this week, even if two defeats have not, and the club shop has had to bring out a new range of Dalglish-themed items to keep up with demand.
His side host local rivals Everton on Sunday in a match that is as much about Dalglish getting three points to start reviving his team in his first home match as it is about local pride.
‘It will be emotional but then so was last season’s derby,’ Dalglish told a news conference at the club’s Melwood training ground where fans lingered for autographs a week after protests against ex-manager Roy Hodgson were spray-painted on the walls.
‘This one is a wee bit different – I’ve got a seat closer to the pitch this time.’
Dalglish quit Liverpool on health grounds in February 1991 after a 4-4 draw with Everton in an FA Cup fifth round replay.
At the time the club were English champions, whereas they now sit four points above the relegation zone in 13th place after 10 league defeats this season.
A 1-0 FA Cup defeat by Manchester United on Sunday followed by a 2-1 loss at Blackpool in the league on Wednesday has hammered home the difficulty of the task in hand.
‘As soon as we start winning matches the greater the confidence will become,’ said Dalglish, who helped Liverpool to eight league titles as a player and manager.
‘Obviously we’ll make some mistakes and we’ll try to correct these mistakes but the great thing that the players have in their favour is they are going to be the ones who dictate how quickly they get that back and the best way to do that is to start winning matches.’
They lost the derby at Goodison Park 2-0 earlier this season and will have a point to prove in a fixture where red cards are a common feature, leading to Dalglish calling for referees to use some common sense before delving into their pockets.
‘Nowadays if you say ‘good morning’ to someone you’ve got a chance of getting a red card so it’s a wee bit different now to how it was a few years ago,’ Dalglish said.
‘You can’t blame players for being passionate and committed – they’d be criticised for not being passionate or committed so as soon as they are, if there is a bit of understanding from officials then I’m sure that would ease it.’
Emotions have also been highly-charged off the pitch with fans looking forward to welcoming the man they nickname ‘King Kenny’ back to Anfield and have been buying merchandise to celebrate.
‘Within half an hour of the news Dalglish had been appointed we had people coming into the shop asking for Dalglish stuff,’ assistant manager of the city centre club store, Peter Powell, said.
‘These products came in today because it was what a lot of fans wanted,’ he added, pointing to the huge display in the centre of the shop of mugs, mousemats and ‘The King is back’ T-shirts.
Equipped with all the gear, all the fans need is for the team to deliver.
‘If it was to be a victory for us on Sunday then I suppose you would describe it as perfect,’ said Dalglish. ‘But the season doesn’t end on Sunday.’
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