by Greavesie » Mon Apr 18, 2011 12:02 am
From the offal:
Kenny Dalglish believes there is no team in world football with the spirit and determination displayed by Liverpool at the Emirates on Sunday.
Dirk Kuyt secured a 1-1 draw with the last kick of the game - just minutes after Robin van Persie gave the title-chasers a lead. Both were penalties.
Earlier in the game Jamie Carragher (concussion) and Fabio Aurelio (thigh) had to leave the field, adding to an already lengthy list of defensive injuries.
Andy Carroll was also substituted as a precaution.
Dalglish reflected: "I don't think there's another team anywhere that would show the attitude and commitment we showed out there today.
"They went through a wee bit of adversity, losing Fabio Aurelio early on and putting a 17-year-old boy on at left-back. Losing the captain, having a right-back who's only 18, losing a centre forward, losing a goal eight minutes into injury-time, and they still didn't want to accept they were going to get nothing from the game.
"I don't think I can speak any higher than that. Everybody will be sat there tonight proud at having seen their team produce a performance like that with the attitude and commitment."
Liverpool had three teenagers on the field in the second half and Dalglish is delighted with the young talent at the club.
He said: "Flanno (John Flanagan) is experienced, that was his second game! Sometimes the second game is the worst to play in but he did brilliantly today. Young Jack (Robinson) coming on - he's still available for the youth team next year. He adapted really well.
"It's really daunting to play at the Emirates against a team chasing the championship. It was fantastic, the way he went about his work.
"Jonjo (Shelvey) did fantastic, and wee Jay (Spearing) was fantastic on Monday and turned in another great performance today. We couldn't ask for any more from them.
"It's them that's pushed us. I don't make that decision, they do. In the last year and a half the development and improvement in the Academy has been fantastic.
"We've also got to be really careful that we don't throw them in and ruin them. That was a slight reservation about Jack playing at the Emirates, but he never let anyone down."
On the injuries sustained on the day, Dalglish added: "Carra is no problem. The challenge was innocuous and then one of the lads pushed him onto his side - then you think there's some problem. He's as right as rain now. Well, as right as rain for him!
"He's brand new.
"Fabio is a hamstring. Andy came off as a precaution. He jarred his knee."
Reporters asked the manager for his view on the two penalties after Arsene Wenger claimed an apparent push by Eboue on Lucas which led to Kuyt's equaliser should not have been given.
Dalglish said: "My opinion of the two penalty decisions is that there was one right and one wrong: you can work it out for yourselves."
The Scot has had to tackle questions about whether the owners have offered him a long-term contract at every press conference. His post-match press session was no different.
"I get asked this every day and it's the same answer," he said.
"But regarding the owners, they are fully committed to bringing in new faces and spending money on the playing staff, so whoever has the privilege of managing the football club is also going to have the privilege of spending some money."
Sunday's result leaves Liverpool four points off European qualification, though rivals Tottenham have two games in hand. Arsenal, meanwhile, trail Manchester United by six points as Alex Ferguson's men chase a record 19th title.
One journalist suggested Liverpool had handed the Premier League to their bitterest rivals.
"We never handed anybody anything," replied Dalglish. "We beat them 3-1 at Anfield so we didn't hand it to them. We can only look after ourselves.
"In my eyes we're still the best club in English football, if not world football. The surprise is that we've not won a title for a long time.
"We never acquired enough points in any season since 1990. Rafa came close a couple of years ago, had a fantastic record against the so-called big four but just couldn't get it over the line."
---------------------------
I absolutely fukking LOVE this man
All round the fields of Anfield Road
Where once we watched the King Kenny play (and could he play!)
Stevie Heighway on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
'Bout the glory, round the Fields of Anfield Road
JFT 96 - Gone but never forgotten
YNWA 15/4/1989
God Bless You All