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Liverpool: Kenny Dalglish signings paying off - Steve Clarke

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments392

Kenny Dalglish Steve Clarke
Liverpool reached two domestic finals under Kenny Dalglish and Steve Clarke

West Brom head coach Steve Clarke believes Liverpool are now starting to benefit from his and Kenny Dalglish's transfer policy at the club.

The Baggies face a Reds side likely to contain Dalglish signings Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and Jose Enrique at Anfield on Monday night.

"I'm not surprised the younger players that Kenny signed are starting to flourish," said Clarke.

"It can take time for people to settle into a club the size of Liverpool."

And he added: "Luis Suarez has really settled into the club now and, if you look at it at this stage, Liverpool are probably playing the best football in the Premier League."

Clarke returns to Anfield for the first time since he and Dalglish were replaced by Brendan Rodgers last summer after 18 months in charge.

Although Rodgers's reign has had its difficulties - the Reds were knocked out of the FA Cup by League One Oldham Athletic in January - they are in good league form, having collected points from successive 2-2 draws, at Arsenal and Manchester City.

Clarke believes the first signs of Rodgers's influence are starting to show at Anfield.

He said: "I don't think there's anybody in football now who thinks you just turn up at a club and create a good team just because they're a great, historical club.

"You have to work at it. Every club in the league has to work hard to try to put a good team on the pitch and you have to work as hard as you can with your players.

"Brendan went in there with a different philosophy to Kenny but Liverpool have always tried to play good football. Brendan has slightly different ideas that maybe took a little bit of time to get across.

"But you can see now that the team is starting to gel and perhaps starting to play the way Brendan wants them to play."

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392 comments

  • Comment posted by RenegadeMaster, at 15:45 10 Feb 2013

    Vox Populi - I do feel LFC will get £15-£20m back mate. Your right, his stats are awful. But he's English, young and a big target man who has shown in the past (if not at LFC) that he can score a lot of goals and create for others. I can see a West Ham and NUFC auction maybe another team as well?
    As for the farcical claim that Hodgeson set up Suarez deal. Reading too much of the Sun. Rumours

  • Comment posted by User0209411138, at 14:36 10 Feb 2013

    "1. DrSmart
    4 MINUTES AGO
    Yep £35 million on Andy Carroll looks like money well spent...!"

    The usual troll constantly refreshing BBC football's home page looking for a story to mindlessly snipe at.

    Given that 4 of his other signings Suarez, Enrique, Henderson and Downing have turned in top performances this season, your opportunist, 2011's-news remark is very much redundant

  • Comment posted by More Like It, at 19:42 10 Feb 2013

    @102
    couldn't care less about Utd. Is it maybe just possible that all those MUppets high-rating WUM comments were busy watching their team on SKY?

  • Comment posted by oracle, at 15:50 10 Feb 2013

    I agree with Steve Clark,don't forget Kennys so called flops reached two cup finals and beat man utd and man city on the way, not to mention 3 wins over Everton and Chelsea last season and beat Arsenal away.The list of flops that ferguson and wenger have bought is incredible, but for some reason the press dont mention these.

  • Comment posted by User0791087622, at 14:23 10 Feb 2013

    Yep £35 million on Andy Carroll looks like money well spent...!

  • Comment posted by maccaynwa, at 11:51 11 Feb 2013

    @224
    So you recycle other peoples ideas without being able to verify?

    Yeah that how most people see you :)

  • Comment posted by James Boughen, at 19:44 10 Feb 2013

    #102 "Presumably all the Liverpool fans have shown up after spending the last three hours desperately hoping United would lose."

    ... why would Liverpool fans have wanted United to lose today? Liverpool are 6 points behind Everton with a game in hand. The title race is already over so wanting United to lose against Everton would be retarded.

    Think before you post.

  • Comment posted by D1679469896576, at 21:21 10 Feb 2013

    I can't understand why none of the last 4 liverpool managers haven't tried using Glen Johnson on the wing or maybe in the midfield three, lots of ability going forward and very good with both feet but still suspect when comes to defending, often gets caught ball watching a lot

  • Comment posted by RenegadeMaster, at 14:21 11 Feb 2013

    E.S.G - I don't like to get embroiled with petty slanging matches. I like to debate in a mature manner. But your clearly a wind up merchant taking to articles about LFC casting more opinions than it's own fans. You spent all morning coming out with classics- Young better than Messi. Messi over-rated as well as being spiteful towards LFC. Well done pal or should I say Troll? You got your reaction

  • Comment posted by User0164603524, at 12:11 11 Feb 2013

    #esg.... You are the most narcissistic person I've ever seen on these things! You give us all a laugh every time! You Are so out of touch its untrue..... But thank you for brightening my day with your predictable drivel every single day.

  • Comment posted by User0885343340, at 19:40 10 Feb 2013

    #92 the only thing that seems behind is your IQ. Portsmouth's problems were a bad business model not bad players? Is that they were relegated? I think not. At no stage did I assume being at peak was a factor. Liverpool have bought poor players recently and stayed afloat Leeds didn't. That is not disputable. Peak or not. It must be difficult to understand but there have been poorer buys than L'pool

  • Comment posted by More Like It, at 19:26 10 Feb 2013

    Very sporting of Clarke to shoulder some of the responsibility with Kenny, but in the truth the self-styled genius Damien Comolli was the one in charge of signings. He identified players, and told the owners how much they should pay. So he is to blame for the poor ones & over-inflated prices, but should also be given credit for Suarez, and the potential of Hederson among others.

  • Comment posted by Mr Red, at 19:54 10 Feb 2013

    I think Downing is playing at his best. That doesn't mean he's that good, but's starting to be more consistent.
    Henderson is starting to turn in good performances and I think he will be good for us present and future.
    Enrique's found form again and looking like the player we thought we signed.
    Regardless of what we paid for Caroll, our attack looks better and we will get a few quid for him.

  • Comment posted by User0302096582, at 20:11 10 Feb 2013

    I consider all that was good under Dalglish's reign to be credited to Steve Clarke, especially their defensive work. The signings of Carroll and Adam were particularly poor, setting Liverpool up as a route one team, although the inflated fees were the fault of Comolli

  • Comment posted by Stephen Marsh, at 12:18 11 Feb 2013

    Clarke is right, Adam aside, the players have done much better in their 2nd season. Carroll needs a season injury free to get his career going again, but he's an old school centre forward and he's got a big future in the game.

    Not so sure about Bobo's deluded claim to be Copernicus, more like the Father Kozyra of football...

  • Comment posted by RenegadeMaster, at 10:47 11 Feb 2013

    A problem with Kenny was that he typified the typical values and traditions that are LFC. Keep all business internally. His aloofness with the press was no different to 20 yrs ago and no dif to Fergie (Fergie just more cunning). KD sticking up for Suarez i am sure Fergie would of reacted in the same way. The difference now is Political Correctness, KD I am afraid wore his heart on his sleeve.

  • Comment posted by maccaynwa, at 12:36 11 Feb 2013

    @ ESG
    You're right no one else has predicted " Coutinho's as LFC's answer to Bebe..." I think there is a reason for that.

    Though to be fair I do agree on your assesment regarding Borini (at the moment) the bloke couldn't hit the broad side of a barn

  • Comment posted by User0312169272, at 09:09 11 Feb 2013

    liverpool are playing some great football, just ask oldham... joking aside, they are contenders for atleast a 5th place finish, which in terms of their start is a real achievement, they were 17th at one time... i had them down as 12th place this season. well done to our former rivals.

  • Comment posted by Paul2207, at 21:57 10 Feb 2013

    The doubts will always remain about Rodgers tactics and ability to change a game! When his teams are winning they look generally look good but as soon as they go behind they look far to easy to defend against! He need's a plan B!

  • Comment posted by User0312169272, at 09:39 11 Feb 2013

    @207, i wouldnt hold your breath, coutinho is a very light and agile midfielder who will (like de gea) struggle to get anywhere near impressing his style for a few weeks, but once he is adjusted and in full flow, he can play and with a world class striker to add to options and a few defenders/mids next season you may be looking at a top 4 finish and trophies.

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