Kenny Dalglish believes he will arrest Liverpool's slump 'sooner rather than later' after derby draw with Everton

Kenny Dalglish believes the character his players showed to rescue a 2-2 draw with Everton shows his side can arrest their slump “sooner rather than later.”

Kenny Dalglish believes he will arrest Liverpool's slump 'sooner rather than later' after derby draw with Everton
Confident: Kenny Dalglish believes he will arrest Liverpool's slump 'sooner rather than later' after the derby draw with Everton Credit: Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Liverpool required a 67th-minute penalty from Dirk Kuyt to secure a draw in the 215th Merseyside derby. Though it was not the glorious homecoming Dalglish had no doubt hoped for, it will serve to make the tone of the Scot’s upcoming meeting with Liverpool’s principal owner, John W Henry, rather more positive.

“It was very emotional for me to be back in the dugout and the response I got from the crowd was very much appreciated,” said Dalglish. “But what was really appreciated was the way they stuck with the players who went out there and started brightly.

“It is very important everyone does what they can for this club, whether it is the players lifting the supporters or the other way around. We will be much better off for it if we are all in it together. Maybe we can turn it around sooner rather than later.”

That Dalglish is determined not to allow Liverpool to continue to wallow in mediocrity is evidenced by the club yesterday making contact with Ajax over an £18 million move for striker Luis Suárez.

Dalglish may have had an easier job of selling the club to the forward had Phil Dowd, in the Scot’s mind, not made two substantial errors to allow the visitors to take the lead. “Everton’s first goal should’ve been a goal kick and not a corner,” he said. “For the second, Martin Kelly got battered.”

His counterpart, David Moyes, felt that a share of the spoils was the least his side deserved. “We had players who were playing their first game at Anfield and I thought it was noticeable in the first half that they didn’t really recognise what was required,” he said. “But they soon found out. To come back in any game is good but a derby even better.”

Moyes’s side was weakened by the absence of Steven Pienaar, who asked not to play as he attempts to discover where he will spend the rest of the season. However, it appears the South African international will not be joining Tottenham, after Harry Redknapp said the club were not willing to match a bid from Chelsea, which has been accepted by Everton.

“I don’t know if we would be prepared to match that offer to be honest with you. I doubt it very much,” Redknapp said.