Man Citeh Build Up.

[Mostar]

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2011/04/09/kenny-dalglish-ponders-calling-up-liverpool-fc-s-talented-young-players-100252-28488704/

Kenny Dalglish ponders calling up Liverpool FC's talented young players

KENNY DALGLISH is contemplating whether to call upon two of Liverpool's highly-rated Academy youngsters for Monday's clash with Manchester City at Anfield.

The Liverpool boss, who will be without skipper Steven Gerrard for the rest of the season, is short of defensive options ahead of the match with Roberto Mancini's side.

The absence of injured trio Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger and Martin Kelly has led to teenage full-backs Jack Robinson and John Flanagan training with the first team at Melwood this week.

Left-back Robinson, 17, became the youngest player in the club's history when he made his debut at Hull on the final day of last season, while right-back Flanagan has yet to make a senior appearance.

Dalglish has high hopes for both of them but insists he must be convinced they will benefit from the experience.

“We will take everyone who is fit into consideration but we've got to be responsible with the development of youngsters,” he said.

“There's no way we want to be irresponsible and ruin the work they have done so far at the Academy and the work the kids have done themselves.

“The younger ones have also had a lot of games this season. We need to be conscious of that and we have to pick our moments when they are asked to play.

“We don't want to ruin any young player's career by putting them in when really it would be unfair."


Gerrard won't play again this season but Liverpool are yet to establish the full extent of his groin injury.

The skipper had an operation last month and was on the verge of a comeback when he broke down in training a week ago.

Dalglish said: “Until we find out from the specialists we cannot say anything definitive. It is best to wait until we know exactly what the problem is and then we will decide whether it is more surgery or not.

“It’s a similar area but it’s not the same injury he had before so we’ll just have to wait and see.

“Steven won't be involved again this season. It's a big blow and it's very disappointing for the player.”

The manager has guided Liverpool from 12th place to sixth in the Premier League since he took over in January but he insists that's no cause for celebration.

“This football club is not ready to settle for sixth place as good enough, but we must recognise we need to improve on the pitch to aim higher,” he said.

Meanwhile, Liverpool will play a pre-season friendly against Valerenga in Norway on August 1. The game will be played in the national Ullevaal Stadium at 6pm UK time.

[Fosterbloke]

I got excited at that article title thinking that Suso and Sterling would be involved.

[RedSince1964]

I got excited at that article title thinking that Suso and Sterling would be involved.

[Mostar]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1375421/Kenny-Dalglish-shrugs-concerns-Andy-Carroll-Luis-Suarez.html?ITO=1490&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Dalglish shrugs off Carroll and Suarez concerns by insisting pair should be judged on next season

Judgement on Liverpool's £57.8million strikeforce of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez should be reserved for this time next season, according to manager Kenny Dalglish.

And anything the pair, who became the club's record signings in the space of just a few hours on January transfer deadline day, produce in the final seven matches of the season should be regarded as a 'bonus' said the Scot.

Suarez has already announced his talents with two goals and a virtuoso performance in last month's 3-1 win at home to Manchester United.

Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez have shone on occasion, but not enough
Carroll, whose Reds debut was delayed by a thigh injury sustained in late December while still at Newcastle, has shown glimpses of his potential but he is not yet fully fit.

Dalglish has always insisted the pair were bought for the long-term good of the club and that they could not be expected to transform Liverpool's fortunes in the latter stages of this season.

However, he believes in 12 months' time the picture will be vastly different.

'Anything we get out of them this season will be a real bonus,' said Dalglish. 'It is good to see them getting an opportunity to play together and get an understanding and we will keep working on that.

'But this time next year would be the better time to judge that when they have had time to settle in.'

Kenny Dalglish convinced the Liverpool board to splash almost £60m on the two strikers.

After Dalglish's arrival to replace Roy Hodgson in early January Carroll and Suarez gave the club another boost with their arrival at the end of that month.

Those two factors, combined with an upturn in results, have lifted the mood at Anfield which had hit an all-time low under the leadership of Hodgson, who at one stage saw his side 19th in the table.

They still have an outside chance of qualifying for Europe with a fifth-placed finish, although that was damaged when Hodgson's West Brom team beat them last weekend.

And even with injures starting to bite, having lost Steven Gerrard and Daniel Agger for the rest of the campaign and with Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly sidelined for another month, Dalglish will continue to push his squad forward.

'We have never predicted anything other than we will concentrate fully on the next game,' said the Reds boss ahead of tomorrow night's visit of Manchester City.

Suarez produced his best performance against Manchester United
'I don't see any reason why you should change the habits of a lifetime - we said we would play every game, add the points up and see where we are.

'We're obviously happier being sixth than seventh but we'd also be happier being fifth than sixth.

'The football club has greater ambition than to settle for sixth spot and we'll be looking to improve on that as best we possibly can.

'We are better than sixth but we've got to prove that on the pitch.

'We have to prove on the pitch that we deserve to be higher in the table than what we are, we have to set our ambitions higher than that.

'That's not to undermine the improvement or form of the lads since the turn of the year.

'I think we have paid credit to the players many times in the past and there is no need to change that.

'I know we have not won every game but the attitude and commitment of the players has been superb and the way they have responded to the change (of manager) has been a great credit to them.

'Their ambitions match the club's and if they don't they won't be here.

'So it is onwards and upwards and we'll take Man City's game on Monday and see what we can get from that.'

[Mostar]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/apr/10/kenny-dalglish-roberto-mancini-manchester-city

Kenny Dalglish says Roberto Mancini weighed down by burdens of wealth

Kenny Dalglish believes Manchester City's vast wealth has guaranteed added pressure and not instant success for Roberto Mancini – and provoked envy akin to that directed at his own title-winning reign at Blackburn Rovers.

While the Liverpool manager insisted there was no comparison between the resources of Sheikh Mansour and the late Jack Walker, Rovers' benefactor when Dalglish brought the 1995 Premier League championship to Ewood Park, he said he could identify with the demands upon Mancini and the disparaging claims that any success City achieved would have been bought.

"It's not Roberto Mancini's fault that Manchester City have got wealthy owners and are prepared to spend money," Dalglish said. "He will be judged on results and that is the only way you can be judged. There is no guarantee of instant success just because he has money at his disposal.

"There is nobody anywhere who has won a trophy without having had some money to spend. He might have more to spend than most people would expect, or most people would hope for, but along with that comes added pressure. I don't see how anyone could be disrespectful towards what Roberto Mancini has achieved in football, whether he has money or not."

Dalglish claimed Blackburn used the accusation they were buying success in the mid-1990s "as an asset". He said: "We never had that much money. People believed that the players were getting paid fortunes but we had one player who left for another club and got four times the wages he was on at Blackburn. We just laughed at it. It was ignorance. People didn't know what the financial situation was. Yes, we signed Alan Shearer, but Alan Shearer signed because he wanted to play for us as well as the money that was paid. Alan got well paid but there was no one at Blackburn on extortionate money.

"I don't think there are any parallels. The only thing that is consistent between the two clubs is that everybody else is jealous, or were jealous of the perceived money that Blackburn supposedly had and are jealous of the money that City obviously do have."

[Rudo]

I'm fairly chilled ahead of this one. dreading it a few days ago, but on second thoughts...what have we got to lose?

City need the points more than we do - they're chasing a place in the Champions League, whereas we're just happy to be above Everton

Lets have it.

[Rudo]

Good luck son

[El Diego]

Good luck son

So he's playing then???

[Rudo]

So he's playing then???

According to other LFC forums, yes

[Darkon]

would be great to see some youngsters get some game time from now untill season ends with european place most likely gone. Perhaps not starting but giving them some sub time would be great. We still have to keep Everton under us tbh, that must be the goal of the season now!

Flannagan, Robinson, Suso could be up for some game time, and adding that Kelly have come through it's looking promising from the younger side. It's also nice to see KK have the faith to give some youngsters and reserves a bit of time on the pitch, it's been a long time since we have had some coming through the ranks.

That said I would also be a bit nervous throwing in young players with little first team experience in to this match and especially at the back. Robinson and/or Flannagan could be in for a handfull against a strong offensive city side if called upon.

I think we will stick to our known formation for this game, I doubt we will revert to the 352 we have seen earlier under Kenny. Carroll and Suarez up front will give city defenders quite a lot of work and I think we will see Spearing/Lucas partnership considering Gerrard is injured. That leaves Meireles, kuyt and Maxi for the last 2 positions.

[PTP]

Looking forward to the match now.... 1st game of the season for me, my wing man and I are flying over on the early flight from Belfast - we arrive at 9.30am - it's going to take a large portion of discipline to stay off the beer until kick off!

Any other Est1892 people attending? What bars (if any) would you be in before the game?

i am - we usually drink in a pub called the grove - bit of a walk to the ground from there, but it's quicker/easier to get served and you can actuallyy breathe in there - the pubs closer the ground are better for atmosphere but a nightmare to move and get a pint.

However with it being a weekday game i'm not sure what everyone's plans are re drinking/driving game and what time people finish work - usually weekends it's sound - train/taxi over and get the pub a few hours before kick off - but weekdays are a nightmare.

[saj]

Anyone know the shqwuad for this game?

[Rudo]

Not sure saj. Wonder if Shelvey will be involved.

Backing Carroll to score tonight, reckon City might nick it though

[SB]

Not sure saj. Wonder if Shelvey will be involved.

Backing Carroll to score tonight, reckon City might nick it though

I think your right Rudo unfortunately

[danperkins]

The place that worries me is the midfield, a combination of any of the following Lucas/Spearing/Meireles IMO will get hounded out and over run. City are very competitive in that area.

Tevez and Silva are playing well too. I reckon we'll give it a good go but i can see us losing this one.