Premier League 
/ Richard Aikman / 22 January 2012 / 3 Comments 
Kenny Dalglish has spent a lot more money than his predecessor Roy Hodgson but results haven't been that much better
"It should be pointed out, though, that Dalglish’s untouchability does present problems of its own, for neither should the Reds’ coach be exempt from all culpability."
Liverpool's season suffered a huge setback with defeat at Bolton yesterday but Kenny Dalglish pulled no punches when it came to laying the blame on his players. He may be honest but he needs to start winning some matches, says Richard Aikman.
Kenny Dalglish has come in for a good deal of criticism of late. There is no question that his public position over the Luis Suarez affair was unacceptable, but the Liverpool manager should be commended for his unsparing public criticism of his players following their abject capitulation at Bolton Saturday night.
Liverpool, (now a well-priced [5.6] to finish the season in sixth place were outplayed, out-thought and outfought by a club that have spent most of the campaign languishing at the nether end of the division and who, before last night, had mustered just one league victory at home all campaign. Afterwards, it was only natural to expect the blame to be levelled at the referee or perhaps his assistant, such is the present day norm for match-day reactions. Arsene Wenger was a case in point last weekend when he tried to put Arsenal's deserved 3-2 defeat by Swansea down to a match official who had made "strange decisions" and a penalty award he described as "a complete imagination".
How refreshing it was, then, to hear a Premier League manager for once giving the supporters the benefit of some intelligence by telling it as it was. "We've got to look at ourselves and if that's the level (the players) expect to play then they'll not be here long," he said.
When offered the chance to explain the result away with a penalty appeal that went unheeded, he added: "That's not the problem. The problem starts with your attitude and your approach to the game and if that's not right then who are we to disrespect anyone and think we can go to any football ground and automatically get a result? Liverpool Football Club has not been built on that foundation, they've always been respectful to people who have paid and have worked hard to get the result. If they don't want to do that, then fine. I don't know where this attitude has come from but it had better go quickly."
Cue: collective sigh of relief. Too many modern-day managers spend their entire post-match press conference seeking excuses, alibis and smokescreens in a thinly-veiled bid to protect their obviously culpable players. Indeed, one of the reasons so many players that leave Arsenal are so complimentary about Wenger is precisely because he never hangs them out to dry. And the reason most managers don't publicly criticise their own is for fear of losing the dressing room.
Dalglish, however, is an exception to the rule because he would have to get his side relegated and burn down Anfield before losing the unswerving support of the Kop. No player is bigger than the club and not even Steven Gerrard is bigger than King Kenny, who decided to use his position to inflict an entirely justifiable withering attack on his own.
It should be pointed out, though, that Dalglish's untouchability does present problems of its own, for neither should the Reds' coach be exempt from all culpability. After all, unlike his harshly vilified predecessor Roy Hodgson, it is Dalglish who was given the keys to the coffers and his £100m plus outlay on players has not paid dividends hitherto. His claims in August that the club had spent "responsibly" are beginning to ring hollow with his side lying seventh in the table and 16 points off the top, having played a game more than leaders Manchester City.
Andy Carroll has yet to justify a tenth of his £35m price tag, while Luis Suarez, aside from letting down his team-mates in the whole Patrice Evra affair, has not translated star quality into goals. Five strikes in 18 league matches is a poor return for a player at a club who, before yesterday, had created the second most goalscoring chances than any other club this season. In total Liverpool have scored just 25 goals all season: significantly less than half of the 57 Manchester City have managed, and their lowest return by this stage of the season in 40 years.
On Saturday, with the exception of Craig Bellamy and Pepe Reina, the Reds were abject, ceding possession cheaply, defending naively and receiving no protection from Charlie Adam or Gerrard, who failed to track back. On a day when Chelsea dropped points and Newcastle lost this was a chance to make gains on the top four, but after Saturday's performance they are as likely to earn a Champions League place as 16th-placed QPR are to finish in the top ten.
Dalglish fell short of suggesting that he will delve into the transfer market to salvage his side's flagging campaign, saying that there is "no need for a knee-jerk". In all honesty, to do so would represent an admission of failure on his part; it would highlight just how poor the likes of Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson have been. However, he needs to do something soon to inspire a reaction from his players, who yesterday seemingly had half an eye on Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Anfield and Saturday's FA Cup fourth round encounter against Manchester United.
Perhaps the public scolding will suffice. It can't do any harm because Liverpool need something to rouse themselves from their present state of torpour. Either way it was refreshing to see the players being berated rather than pampered for once. For that much Kenny deserves the thanks of us all.
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