LIVERPOOL KENNY DALGLISH Dalglish has called on his players to channel their frustrations better after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle.
Pepe Reina was sent off for violent conduct after head-butting James Perch and Andy Carroll stormed straight down the tunnel after being substituted on his return to Tyneside.
After the match Dalglish called on his players to use frustrating situations on the field to inspire greater effort.
“When Andy came off and went up the tunnel he was disappointed with the way the game has gone, not necessarily for himself, but for the team and the frustration takes him up into the dressing room,” Dalglish said.
“We do not have a problem with people showing their desperation and disappointment or frustration but we need to channel it better than we have done.”
Dalglish accepted that a penalty should not have been given when Carroll went down under no contact in the ninth minute, although he thought a yellow card for the 23-year-old was harsh.
“It was not a penalty kick and I also thought that Andy was losing his balance anyway before he reached the goalkeeper and even if he had got past him he would have still fallen over,” the Scotsman said. Newcastle boss Alan Pardew also had sympathy for Carroll after his former player had a day to forget in his first game back in Newcastle.
“I think Liverpool have struggled to find that game-plan for him with the players they have,” Pardew said. ”When we had him here we were probably a little bit more direct than we are now and he was magnificent.
“He will be again, it is just a question of getting that balance right.”
Newcastle’s current number nine, Papiss Cisse scored both goals on Sunday, his sixth and seventh since a seven-million-pound move from Freiburg. Pardew praised the Senegalese striker after the game.
“On our side of the coin, Cisse was terrific and long may that continue,” Pardew said. ”They were two great goals, fantastic finishes, and his all-round performance really was of the highest order. It was probably his best so far.”
