Kenny Dalglish watched Luis Suarez make a goalscoring debut for Liverpool – then backed his new-look strikeforce to frighten teams at Anfield.
Uruguay international Suarez took just 16 minutes to score after stepping off the bench as a 63rd-minute substitute to secure a 2-0 win for Dalglish’s men against Stoke City last night.
A third goal in four games from Raul Meireles had given Liverpool the lead two minutes and set them on their way to a third successive Premier League victory.
Suarez completed a £22.75million transfer from Ajax on Monday, his fee eclipsed later in the day by the £35m signing of Newcastle United’s Andy Carroll as Liverpool prepared for life without Chelsea-bound Fernando Torres. And a delighted Dalglish said: “I think we will start to frighten some of the opposition when they come here and we’ve got Luis, Carroll, Gerrard, and Meireles. They are four really good players who will compliment each other really well.
“Andy’s going to be a few weeks but we didn’t buy him for that, but for five-and-a-half years.”
Dalglish scored on his Anfield debut against Newcastle back in August 1977, and dismissed the suggestion Suarez’s strike could be taken away from the Uruguayan as the ball was eventually knocked over the line by Andy Wilkinson’s desperate attempts to clear.
“Was it his goal? Well, I gave him it!” said the Liverpool manager. “It was going in – he can have the first goal as well if you want!
“It’s great to score on your debut. Him and Dirk Kuyt linked up very well too, it’s not been too bad a day for us.”
Suarez had not even trained with his team-mates before being named on the bench, and hadn’t played club football in more than two months due to a ban in Holland for biting a PSV Eindhoven player.
And Dalglish said: “I’m delighted for him. The lad’s not even had the opportunity to train with us yet because of administrative issues to sort out. He only got his work permit yesterday, and was straight in the squad tonight.
“When he starts training with the lads will see him improve. He’s got big smile on his face every day, he’s a happy guy and a good guy.
“We were never going to put any timescale on him, he’ll be fit when he’s ready – but he’s not doing too bad as he is.”
Last night’s win moved Liverpool to within two points of sixth-placed Sunderland, and Dalglish said: “Is the table looking healthier? Just a touch. It’s an old adage, but we are taking each game as it comes. It stood us in good stead for many years here. That’s what we will do.
“We cannot afford to and we will not get carried away. There’s a lot of hard work to be done. The lads enjoy winning and it’s a good habit to be in.
“The players did really well. Stoke are a difficult team to play against, you have to compete with them and then get your own game going.”
Dalglish added: “Soto was brilliant, with his presence and command of everything that came in the box.
“Three clean sheets is always a bonus and a help. Tonight it was very important for the defenders to do their job properly, and they did that. It’s been a busy week and great credit to the players they haven’t let everything get to them. The way they competed and went about it was great.
“The supporters realise we have players here who want to compete and get as much as we can from every game.”
Stoke manager Tony Pulis had no complaints with the result. He said: “We did okay in the first half until the last 10 minutes and our keeper made a great save. But to come out and concede just after half-time gave them a lift and up until the second goal. I watched Suarez in the World Cup and also for games at Ajax and he is a top player. It will take time for him to settle but he is going to be a top player for Liverpool.”
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