AFTER WATCHING HIS Liverpool side slump to an unexpected defeat at the hands of Owen Coyle’s stuttering Bolton Wanderers, Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has accused his squad of lacking respect for both their opposition and the traditions of the club they represent.
Speaking in the immediate aftermath of the result, which leaves Liverpool mired in seventh position in the Premier League table, the Scot told Eurosport that he “expected a much higher level” of commitment from his players.
Though Dalglish conceded the squad may have been distracted by upcoming fixtures in the FA and Carling Cups, he suggested that players thought to be consistently lacking the requisite level of concentration would soon find themselves out of favour.
“It’s all well and good saying they might have been distracted because there is a game on Wednesday and another on Saturday, but every game is a massive game for us. And if [players] think they can turn the clock on and off, then they won’t be turning it on and off at this club.”
Dalglish, who has often been slow to criticise his players in public, was incensed by the extent which he believed yesterday’s performance ran contrary to the guiding principles at the heart of Liverpool’s footballing philosophy.
He was later quoted by the Guardian’s Paul Wilson as saying:
“The foundations of this club have always been based on respect for other people. You can’t come to places like this thinking all you need to do is turn up to get a result. That’s what I think we did today, and that’s why we were taught a lesson. It’s not the right way to represent the club.”
Liverpool will attempt to defend their one-goal advantage over Manchester City in the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final on Wednesday before facing Manchester United in the FA Cup next weekend.
