Dalglish: Why Players Deserve Praise

Kenny Dalglish has paid tribute to his players for keeping Liverpool's fight for a European place alive.

When the manager took over the Anfield reins in January, thoughts of a place in the top six looked optimistic, but a turnaround in form saw the Reds quickly climb the table.

Despite Saturday's 2-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion, Dalglish's charges are still just five points behind Tottenham Hotspur in the chase for fifth place - and Harry Redknapp's side have yet to visit Anfield.

While the manager prefers not to look too far ahead, insisting his only concern is Monday's crunch Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester City, he believes his squad deserve a great deal of credit for the way they have responded since he returned to the hotseat.

Dalglish told Liverpoolfc.tv: "I still don't think sixth place is the position we actually want to be in, but credit to the players because there have only been two transfers out and two in, and the lads that have got us to where we are deserve great credit for it.

"I don't think they could have done much more. I think they've done more than they possibly could.

"We've won some games maybe people thought we couldn't win and we've lost other games we thought we should win, but at the end of the day, as we keep saying, we will add up the points at the end of the season and see where we are.

"If we were to finish sixth it would be an achievement for the players that they have got that far in such a short space of time but we just need to keep going and see what happens.

"The Tottenham game is our second to last match of the season but we are only looking as far ahead as Man City, because as we've always said the next game is the most important one and that's all we can concentrate on.

"Whatever happens between now and when we play Aston Villa, which is our last game, will dictate whether we are closer to Tottenham or further away.

"We will just put all our energy towards getting a result against Manchester City first."

With no midweek fixture and no game until Manchester City visit Anfield on Monday, Dalglish has had time to work with his squad and prepare them thoroughly for the clash with Roberto Mancini's outfit.

The boss believes spirits are high in the camp, with the players itching to get back out on the field and produce a good response to Saturday's defeat at the Hawthorns.

He added: "We've had a strange week really, a 3pm kick-off at West Brom on Saturday and then a free week but the boys are still training well and preparing.

"If there is anyone with a couple of bumps and bruises then it gives them the opportunity to get rid of them and be fit, but the way our luck is going at the moment we'll probably pick something up in training on Sunday morning.

"I don't know whether it's beneficial or detrimental because after a defeat you want to get back out there and play a game as quickly as you can just to get the taste out of your mouth.

"We've not had that opportunity but we've had the opportunity of getting Jonjo Shelvey fitter with his outing for the reserves and having Fabio Aurelio back.

"The players were disappointed to lose the game at West Brom but they have trained really well, so we'll get ourselves ready and the closer we get to Monday's game the more preparation we will do."