Monday, February 28, 2011

Meireles Shining Bright Under King Kenny

Liverpool ace Raul Meireles has revealed how the arrival of Kenny Dalglish has brought the best out of him.

The Portuguese international, a contender for the ESPN PFA Fans' Player of the Month in February, signed for Liverpool under former manager Roy Hodgson, but believes the change at the top has worked in his favour.

A lack of backing from the now West Brom boss is highlighted as a reason for his slow start to life at Anfield, but the 27-year-old has become influential in a more advanced position for the Merseysiders.

"It is certain that under Dalglish I get more chances than I did in Hodgson's time," Meireles told the People.

"The system we play now is different. We play more in attack, which helps me. I don't know why, but perhaps Hodgson didn't think too well of me. But I am the same now as I was then."

Signed from Porto, Meireles spoke of the relationship 'King Kenny' has with the players, and how his style of training is also benefiting the players at Liverpool despite the defeat to West Ham yesterday.

"Kenny Dalglish is closer to the players and he also speaks to them a lot more in training. The relationship between the players and coach is more direct. Hodgson is a veteran coach, an old-school gentleman, and was respectful towards the players. But the injuries and bad start to the season damaged our work with him."

The £11.5 million acquisition is now an integral part of the Liverpool line-up, and his five goals in eight appearances suggests Dalglish really has made all the difference.

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