Ian Rush: No Top Four For Liverpool

Kenny Dalglish can’t propel Liverpool to a dream top-four Premier League finish – despite turning the Reds’ season around.

That’s according to Kop legend Ian Rush, who says Champions League qualification is beyond the Merseysiders this term.

But he insists that the appointment of Dalglish WILL ultimately lead to glory.

Dalglish has galvanized Liverpool since replacing Roy Hodgson in January and the Anfield side is hovering on the fringes in sixth place – just behind Chelsea after a run of four league wins and a draw.

The results included a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge after selling Fernando Torres to the Blues for £50million.

Dalglish spent the cash on Newcastle ace Andy Carroll and midfielder Luis Suarez from Ajax.

But despite a new mood of optimism at the club, Rush says thoughts of a speedy return to the Champions League are premature. “For me it is too much to expect a top-four place this season,” said the former Wales hitman.

“It’s something that will probably be beyond Liverpool but that doesn’t mean what Kenny has done isn’t fantastic.

“The fans must be patient and remember that it wasn’t long ago people were talking about a relegation battle,” said Rush, who hit 229 goals in 469 games for the Reds.

“But without doubt Kenny is the right man and I’m sure Liverpool can still have a say in who wins the title.

“We have still got to play Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City and Spurs.

“And it’s such a crazy league with everyone capable of beating everyone else you can see the influence they could have on the destiny of the title.”

And former Wales striker Rush reckons Liverpool’s owners – John W Henry’s New England Sports Ventures – have shown their intention of making a bigger impact next season by splashing the Torres cash.

“It is a massive statement of intent. A top-four finish is unlikely to happen this year but I’m sure we’ll be in with a shout next time.”

Jamie Carragher has also issued a reality-check message to fans convinced Dalglish is about to bring the good times back.

A draw with Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday night and an FA Cup Fifth Round weekend without any football indicates where Liverpool currently stand.

Carra says there is a lot of hard work ahead and said: “Liverpool get a lot of criticism.

“People say we live in the past – that we should be winning this and that.

“But the truth is Liverpool have not won the league for the past 20 years.

“Kenny did a fantastic job in his first spell but Liverpool was already steeped in success. In the two years before his appointment they had been to two European Cup finals.

“I hear people criticize Gerard Houllier and Rafael Benitez, saying they are failures because they didn’t win the league. – yet I have to disagree with that.

“But if Kenny can get us back to where we were when he left in 1991, that in itself would be a brilliant achievement.”