Dalglish faces unenviable task

Dalglish in the wake of Liverpool's defeat at Blackpool (GETTY IMAGES)

The return of Kenny Dalglish to the managerial hotseat at Liverpool constitutes a sequel to one of the greatest love affairs in the history of English football.

But sequels are usually disappointing - weighed down and ultimately undone by the expectation that they must match or even surpass the achievements of the original. With this in mind, a mere glance at Dalglish's Liverpool record makes it immediately clear that the 59-year-old Scot faces a monumental task. 

Having won 10 league titles and three European Cups in fourteen years at Anfield as player and manager, 'King Kenny' is rightly revered like no other by the Kop.

That he is willing to risk tainting this flawless legacy by stepping once again into the firing line is not simply proof of the man's personal courage or even of his love for the club - it is a sad indictment of the extent of Liverpool's recent decline.

The last time the league trophy resided at Anfield was actually under Dalglish in 1990. In the barren 20 years since, Liverpool's status as England's most successful club has come under serious threat from arch-rivals Manchester United.

The two are tied on 19 league titles apiece but, given their respective positions in this season's table, Kopites can do nothing but watch on as Sir Alex Ferguson's side attempts to finally fulfil the wily old Scot's long-stated desire to 'knock Liverpool off their perch'.

The Reds currently sit 13th in the Premier League table, twice as close in terms of points to the relegation zone than to a European spot, having presided over their worst start to a league season in living memory.

Roy Hodgson, undermined by boardroom turmoil, an unbalanced squad and indifferent fans, as well as his own mistakes, was unable to check the slide. Given only six months, he never really had a chance.

And so, having failed to secure the progressive young manager they were looking for to replace Hodgson, New England Sports Ventures have bowed to overwhelming fan pressure and given Dalglish the task of guiding the team for the rest of the season.

While the popular motivation behind Dalglish's appointment lies more within the heart than the head, the decision also makes sense from NESV's point of view.

For whether or not 'King Kenny' succeeds in turning around the club's fortunes, the decision to give him a chance has immediately endeared the new Americans to the fans. If he fails, John W. Henry and co. will have a stronger mandate to do things their own way from here on out.

But for Dalglish, the risk is significant.

His enormous contribution to the Merseyside club as a player and manager will never be forgotten, but no reputation is impervious to damage. Failure to positively impact the club's fortunes this time around would see a negative footnote applied to his impressive list of achievements.

And if the Scot was under any illusions as to the size of the rebuilding job facing him, they would surely have been obliterated by another ignominious defeat to Blackpool on Wednesday evening.

Prior to that game there was hope - enhanced by the spirited performance rather than the result at Old Trafford last weekend - that Dalglish, with his outstanding footballing pedigree and deep-rooted connection to Liverpool Football Club, would be able to inspire a revival just with his mere presence.

Instead, the match offered emphatic proof that there can be no overnight cure for the problems which have plagued the Reds for the best part of two years.

Despite having taken an early lead, the visitors' confidence vanished with Gary Taylor-Fletcher's fairly swift equaliser. From then on Blackpool dominated, their enterprising and expansive play ensuring they enjoyed the lion-share of possession and crafted the clearer chances, and it was to the surprise of no one when DJ Campbell had almost the freedom of the 18-yard box to head home the winner.

Of course, all due credit must go to Ian Holloway, who has done a fantastic job of confounding almost every critic - including this one - and leading his team to mid-table in the Premier League, whilst producing some genuinely entertaining attacking football.

But with all due respect to Blackpool and to Holloway, the result says more about Liverpool's current malaise than anything else. Prior to the start of the season, anyone who claimed that the Tangerines would do the league double over the five-time European Cup winners would have been assumed to be a Reina short of a clean sheet.

The Reds midfield once again proved lacking in both fight and ideas in the absence of captain Steven Gerrard, who paid the price for over-enthusiasm during the game at Old Trafford. The central trio of Lucas, Meireles and Poulsen were unable to dominate their less illustrious opposition, and failed to create the chances which would have tested an unconvincing Richard Kingson.

No reassurance was to be found in a defence lacking Jamie Carragher either. Daniel Agger was at fault for Blackpool's equaliser, and both he and Martin Skrtel appeared to have gone home when DJ Campbell settled matters. With Carragher not expected to return for another month, this could prove a particularly problematic area for Dalglish.

For those desperately looking for any signs of a Dalglish-inspired recovery, there were positives. Martin Kelly provided a noticably less shambolic performance at right-back than Glen Johnson has consistently delivered this season, and then there was the clinical manner in which Fernando Torres opened the scoring.

Can Dalglish get the best out of Torres? (GETTY IMAGES)

The 26-year-old Spaniard has been perhaps the most enigmatic figure of this most incomprehensible of seasons. The composed and confident nature of his finish at Broomfield Road is but the latest flash of brilliance in a campaign which has promised much but delivered little.

Lacklustre performances, impotence in front of goal and disinterested body language fuelled speculation that Torres wanted away from Anfield. Then he turned on the style to destroy Chelsea in November with two brilliantly taken goals, and most assumed he was back. Since then, however, his contribution has been an erratic combination of important goals and anonymous displays.

It is no coincidence that Torres' problems coincide with those of Liverpool. Having witnessed his invaluable contribution to the infrequent achievements of the Benitez era, there can be no overstatement in saying that Dalglish's long-term success will depend upon getting the Spanish hitman back to his very best.

The Merseyside giants will also have to get active in the transfer market if they aim to once again compete for the biggest domestic and European prizes. The fact that Damian Comolli has been appointed to head the recruitment program means Dalglish's status as a caretaker manager should not impede the immediate acquisition of targets.

The level of investment which NESV are willing to sanction remains unclear. What could not be any clearer, however, is the level of investment which is required. Liverpool are, and have been for some years, a side which is too heavily reliant on Gerrard and Torres to win matches. A top-class striker and wingers are certainly called for.

On the defensive side of things, the Reds have suffered as a result of failing to replace midfield enforcer Javier Mascherano, who is now warming the home bench at the Nou Camp. There are also questions hanging over Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel as capable partners for Jamie Carragher in the back four, and Paul Konchesky is not a worthy Liverpool left-back.

But these problems will not be dominating Dalglish's thoughts in the short-term. He will seek to galvanise the players already at his disposal, to convince them that they can once again be the side who challenged Manchester United for the league title only two years ago.

A big step forward can be taken in the Merseyside derby tomorrow. The humbling at Goodison Park in October was one of the results for which Roy Hodgson was never forgiven by the Kop, and although Dalglish would likely receive more lenient treatment, the Scot will be in no mood to force them to endure another humiliation.

Victory over their arch-rivals would be a huge boost for Dalglish's Liverpool, and whilst it would not be an end in itself, it would be the kind of result which could provide a genuine platform for an Anfield revival.

Moreover, if they win, the sequel to one of English football's biggest love affairs may actually prove to have been worth waiting for.

Anfield boardroom antics cement legacy of failure

Liverpool fans could be forgiven for waking up in ambivalent mood this morning. For ultimately, the ill-fated reign of Tom Hicks and George Gillett appears to be entering its final stages. But the civil war which has broken out in Anfield's corridors of power over the past few days, combined with the prospect of prolonged legal wrangling and possibly even administration to come, surely constitutes the lowest ebb of what already makes a strong claim to be the most traumatic period in the club's history.

When chairman Martin Broughton first announced that he and his fellow board members had agreed the sale of Liverpool Football Club to New England Sports Ventures, led by commodities tycoon John W. Henry, many among the Anfield faithful were understandably wary of their club falling victim to another mysterious 'Yank' who would view one of European football's giants as a nice little earner.

Many of these fears have subsequently been allayed, both by Broughton's insistence on the honourable nature of NESV's intentions, and by the American group's record of commercial and sporting success with Major League Baseball giants the Boston Red Sox. Consequently, those who originally greeted the takeover news with optimism have had their resolve strengthened, and many of the cynics are now of the view that any change of ownership would be a welcome one.

But under the leadership of Gillett and Hicks, Liverpool fans have grown accustomed to the fact that nothing is ever straightforward. With the sale apparently agreed, and public opinion firmly in favour of the proposed takeover, the scene was set for the beleaguered Americans to make their last stand. Outnumbered in the board room, they have taken the not-too-subtle approach of attempting to fire anyone who disagrees with them.

The motivation for their opposition is obvious: ever since officially confirming their intention to sell the club in April of this year, Hicks and Gillett have sought a profit on the price of just over £200m that they paid for Liverpool in 2007 - a just reward for what they view as the 'great work' done in that time, along with the considerable investment that they have both made. Originally set at £800m, their asking price has fallen to £600m as the threat of RBS has grown ever larger, but it has still been branded unrealistic by every serious investor who has shown an interest in the Anfield club. NESV's offer weighs in at just over £300m - enough to cover the £280m loan repayments to RBS and US bank Wachovia, but providing none of the return on the Amercian duo's original investment, estimated to be around £140m.

But while the reason for their opposition to the deal is clear, what the Americans hope to achieve through their drastic course of action is less so. Chairman Martin Broughton has claimed that it is a redundant move, since he received written guarantees, both that neither of the owners would hinder the acceptance of a 'reasonable' offer, and that only he could alter the make-up of the board, prior to assuming his post. It is unlikely that he would make such bold claims unless they were true, and that he possessed documentation which backed him unequivocally.

But even if Hicks and Gillett succeed in gaining a court action preventing the sale of Liverpool to NESV, they appear to be short of options. The idea of an Arab sheikh or Russian oligarch turning up at Anfield and agreeing to stump up the desired £600m is as much of a pipe-dream now as it was three months ago. Foolishness is not a quality usually associated with individuals of that level of wealth, and any fool can see that Liverpool football club is not worth £600m.

Despite relatively liberal investment in the playing squad at Anfield over the last three years, not even the most ardent supporter of Rafa Benitez can claim a significant improvement in this area. This argument is borne out by the fact that, the 'miracle of Istanbul' in 2005 aside, the absence of recent major silverware in the Reds trophy cabinet is as noticeable now as at any time in the last 20 years. But perhaps most importantly of all, the fact that a large expanse of land in Stanley Park still lies fallow makes it even more unlikely that any prospective buyer would be prepared to make such a huge initial outlay.  

In the improbable event that such a buyer did present himself, the fact remains that Hicks and Gillett could not be in a worse negotiating position. The deadline for the repayment of the £240m in loans and £40m in fees owed to RBS is set for 15th of October. The bank have already extended it once, and the signs are that they are unlikely to be willing to do so again - especially in the knowledge that the Americans have turned down several offers from suitors who could have guaranteed the repayment of the money.

In fact, RBS have made it clear that if the money is not repaid on time, they will seize control of Liverpool and sell it themselves. Not only would this deprive Hicks and Gillett of any return on their investment, but it would also send parent company Kop Holdings into administration, forcing the Premier League to deduct Liverpool 9 points and making the Reds' worse start to a league season for 57 years a hell of a lot worse.

Of course, Hicks and Gillett will not be losing much sleep over the potential ramifications of their decision for Liverpool, or for what remains of their reputation on Merseyside. No more than when they revealed in 2008 that they had consulted Jurgen Klinsmann about the prospect of replacing Rafa Benitez as manager behind the Spaniard's back, or when Tom Hick's son told a disillusioned fan where exactly he could stick his complaints.

It is remarkable, indeed almost admirable, how impervious they have been to the torrent of criticism and ill-will that has been directed towards them. But surely they will have detected that, even if they negotiate the various formidable obstacles which currently block their path to continued supremacy at Liverpool, their position will forever remain untenable with the fans. The negative matchday atmosphere at Anfield has been a huge - albeit not the only - factor in the poor start that Roy Hodgson's side has made to this season, and sporting success is rarely achieved against a backdrop of fan protests and boardroom in-fighting.

From a business and sporting perspective, the reign of Hicks and Gillett has been an unequivocal failure. Whether or not this week's events mark the beginning of a new dawn at Anfield, it seems now that the only guaranteed success resulting from the American duo's latest misguided choice is to ensure that they are even more hated in the red half of Merseyside.  

Can Joe Cole transform Liverpool?

Until today, it was fair to say that, free-spending Manchester City aside, this summer's transfer window had failed to capture the imagination of many Premier League fans. With most top clubs and players unwilling to consider transfer negotiations until after the World Cup, significant developments in the market had been at a premium. But now Liverpool have come up on the rails to beat Tottenham, Arsenal and possibly a few others to the signing of Joe Cole, prompting former Reds legends such as Ian Rush and Alan Kennedy to publicly congratulate Roy Hodgson on pulling off such a coup, and even leaving rival fans grudgingly impressed.

There's no doubt that, as a free agent, Cole was an inspired signing waiting to happen for any ambitious Premier League club, and Liverpool rightly deserve credit for securing his signature. The natural flair which he exhibited as a youngster at West Ham always marked him out as a special talent, and under Jose Mourinho's guidance at Chelsea this ability was complemented by an indefatigable work ethic and willingness to track back - rare qualities in a creative midfielder, and one which would make him a significant asset to any side.

But the impact of Cole's signing is not limited to the talent he possesses on the pitch. It has the potential to be a statement of intent - to show that Liverpool are not yet out of the business of signing top players, despite their lack of Champions League football and financial troubles. It can also serve to convince the top players already at the club that their future successes lie at Anfield. In one area, this potential has already been realised, with talismanic captain Steven Gerrard effectively committing his future to the club in the wake of the signing. Fernando Torres included, Gerrard is the most important player at Liverpool - not only for his invaluable contribution on the field, but also because he is an integral part of the club's identity. As a consequence, his departure would have dealt a catastrophic blow to Roy Hodgson's attempts to rebuild Liverpool as a major force.

However, whilst the impressive capture of Joe Cole must be given its due credit, it must also be placed into context. Liverpool finished 23 points off champions Chelsea last year, and comfortably missed out on the fourth Champions League spot. They were exposed as a woefully limited side, far too reliant on the drive of Gerrard and goals of Torres, and therefore unable to cope with the loss of form and fitness of these two key individuals. The sale of Xabi Alonso also proved a mistake, as it took his replacement Alberto Aquilani the whole first half of the season to overcome his own injury problems, and much longer to adapt to the rigorous style of the Premier League. This term, he will surely be better, but Liverpool's task to regain their position in the 'big four' has become much harder. Manchester City continue to operate in accordance with the mantra that 'money is no object' in their pursuit of their lofty aims, and Tottenham's budget and playing squad will be strengthened by the financial rewards of achieving Champions League football last time out. With Aston Villa and Everton also likely to be competitive once more, Roy Hodgson will know that overseeing an Anfield revival will be far from easy.

It will take more than Joe Cole to remedy the problems which Liverpool faced last season, and to adequately prepare them for the challenges posed by the current campaign. Whilst he will certainly lessen the creative burden previously thrust entirely upon Gerrard's shoulders, another quality striker is desperately needed, either to deputise for Fernando Torres in his absence, or to partner him on the field. The Spaniard is undoubtedly a world-class forward, but based upon the evidence of the last 18 months, it would be optimistic to the point of foolish to rely on him to have an injury free season. Moreover, it remains uncertain whether Torres will even be a Liverpool player for much longer, with several rumours linking him to both Chelsea and Barcelona. He may require more assurances than Gerrard that Liverpool will soon once again be challenging for major honours, and Hodgson will surely consider this one of his biggest priorities.

A new midfield enforcer may also be required, with Javier Mascherano's Anfield future growing more doubtful with every message which Roy Hodgson is forced to leave on his voicemail. Pepe Reina remains one of the best keepers in the country, an assertion borne out by the fact that Liverpool boasted the third best defensive record in the league last season, despite their poor overall performance. Nevertheless, a recognised left-back is urgently needed after the sale of the disappointing Emiliano Insua and the inconsistent Fabio Aurelio, and the addition of a pacey young centre-back to the squad would complement the more physical qualities of Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger.

There is, of course, well over a month to go in the summer transfer window, making it perfectly possible that Joe Cole could be the first of several big names to arrive at Anfield. Certain indications, however, suggest that this may not be the case. The huge debt that Reds owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have saddled the club with has been well documented, and worryingly for Liverpool fans, these financial restraints appear to have manifested themselves in a 'less is more' approach to transfer dealings, with the emphasis thus far being placed on securing free agents and promising youngsters for minimal fees. Whilst it must be said that Liverpool have fared particularly well in their pursuit of the former, with talented internationals Maxi Rodriguez and Milan Jovanovic joining alongside Cole for nothing, the fact is that quality free agents are extremely few and far between, and therefore it seems inevitable that significant outlay will be required if Hodgson wishes to make further top additions to his squad.

The capture of Joe Cole is undoubtedly a significant statement of intent from the Liverpool hierarchy that they intend to regain what they consider to be their rightful place in the 'big four' of English football. Only time will tell whether they have the pockets to match their ambition.