We are not Kop flops and we're not looking for excuses, insists Dalglish
By Dominic King
PUBLISHED: 21:28 GMT, 5 April 2012 | UPDATED: 21:28 GMT, 5 April 2012
Kenny Dalglish has launched an impassioned defence of his squad and insisted he will not alter his tried and tested methods to halt Liverpool's alarming slump.
The Liverpool manager has endured arguably the most turbulent season of his career, having to deal with a number of disciplinary issues involving Luis Suarez and most recently Andy Carroll and Pepe Reina.
We won't change: Dalglish will stick to tried and trusted principles
Dalglish, though, made the surprise revelation on Thursday that he has never fined an individual, which means there will be no punishment for either Carroll, who aimed a foul-mouthed volley towards the Scot at Newcastle last weekend, or Reina, who was sent-off in the same game.
There have been suggestions that Dalglish has been too protective of his squad that has lost six times in its last seven Barclays Premier League matches but the Scot is adamant that his faith will be rewarded.
'If someone goes out and gives you the best they can, there is not a problem,' said Dalglish, whose side face Aston Villa on Saturday.
No fine: Carroll will escape punishment for his foul-mouthed outburst
'If they are looking for direction or help, they will get all the help they want here, as long as they are 100 per cent genuine.
'If they are not 100 per cent genuine, then there is a problem. But it won't be sorted out publicly. I won't condemn a player in public and never have done.
'You can only be what you are. If other people (manage) differently, that is up to them.'
Bald truth: Reina (left) was sent off at Newcastle by ref Martin Atkinson
Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge launched a scathing attack on the club earlier this week, using his weekly column in the Liverpool Echo to claim the club's current run constituted 'a crisis' and he questioned the desire of the squad.
When asked if that was the case, Dalglish bluntly said: 'I don't think that is true.'
Pincer movement: Co-owners John Henry (left) Tom Werner
Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's American owners, will expect Dalglish to provide a written report at the end of the season, to explain why what began with them harbouring hopes of returning to the Champions League has dramatically unravelled.
Dalglish did not give the impression on Thursday that he was under pressure and was adamant that his relationship with owner John W Henry and chairman Tom Werner was the 'same as it was in the first week of the season'.
However, Liverpool's run of form – the worst they have endured since 1953 – is clearly vexing him.
'We are not looking for excuses,' he said. 'We are looking for reasons so that we can correct it. We are not looking to somebody else and saying "if that had been given, it would have been different."
'We are looking at ourselves and asking how we solve our problems. Nobody is looking for sympathy. There is nobody happy here (with the results).'
One-man team: Gerrard is not happy about Liverpool's plight
Captain Steven Gerrard added: 'We are in a position in the league that we are not happy about. We need to look at ourselves and try to move up (the table) as quickly as we can.'
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