Kenny Happy With Development

Manager Kenny Dalglish believes the evolving partnerships in his Liverpool squad will prove key to the club's chances of long-term success.

With seven new arrivals in the summer and January signings Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll having hardly played alongside each other in the latter stages of last season it has taken a while for things to knit together at Anfield.

The striking duo are starting to develop an understanding but by far the most successful link-up this season has been the one down the left between Jose Enrique and Stewart Downing, both summer signings.

Charlie Adam has also slotted in alongside Lucas Leiva in central midfield to go some way to counter the absence of injured captain Steven Gerrard, who has only made two Premier League starts this season.

Dalglish said: "The squad is the most important thing, then it becomes the team then the partnerships between people on the pitch and their understanding and getting to know each other.

"They get to know the idiosyncrasies of each individual player and their team-mates; for Jose and Stewart I don't think it is any different from any other pairing on the pitch.

"The more they play and train together the better their understanding will be.

"There have been a few new players coming in so it might take them a little bit of time to understand it but I think some of the football they have played up to now has been fantastic for them.

"Stewart fills in if Jose goes forward but that is only part of their relationship and it is the same all over the pitch, there are relationships to be bedded in.

"To their credit they have done it a lot quicker than a lot of people would have expected."

Such has been the form of Enrique, who made his debut in the opening match of the season just 24 hours after moving from Newcastle, he has played every minute of all 10 Premier League matches so far.

That has had his name mentioned for a potential first international call-up for Spain.

Dalglish believes the 25-year-old is more than capable of playing at that level - although he admits there are a few barriers to be overcome.

"He got thrown in at the deep end against Sunderland because Fabio (Aurelio) got injured and he slotted in straight away - maybe that was a blessing in disguise for him being thrown in as soon as he did as he didn't have much time to think about it," said the Scot.

"He has certainly played very well for us but I think he has to concentrate on getting a game for us first and then he can worry about Spain.

"If he gets called for I don't think there is any level in the game that he couldn't play well at."