Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Dalglish Cannot Hide Frustration

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish could not hide his disappointment after a draw with rock-bottom Blackburn Rovers, but was pleased to have Steven Gerrard back on the field.

The Reds were held to a sixth Premier League draw of the season at Anfield after Charlie Adam's own goal was cancelled out by Maxi Rodriguez on Boxing Day.

Liverpool pummelled the Blackburn goal, but Mark Bunn was one of the heroes as, not for the first time in the current campaign, a visiting goalkeeper was man of the match.

It has been a familiar tale for Dalglish and if Liverpool had taken wins from the 12 points they have dropped at Anfield, they would be sat comfortably in the top four.

And the Scot told Sky Sports after the match against Blackburn: "It is the same story for us. It gets repetitive hearing it; it gets repetitive saying it for us.

"There is not a great deal more they (the players) can do other than have a bit of belief in themselves when they get in there."

Bunn denied Andy Carroll, who was making a rare start, twice with two reflex saves, while 17-year-old Blackburn debutant Adam Henley cleared a Daniel Agger effort off the line with the final kick of the match.

"We did have something to show for it, we got a point, which is not what we deserved and is not what our intent was, either," Dalglish said.

"But they (Blackburn) came to go away with something and they got it. They fought hard for the cause.

"We have got to look after what we can do for ourselves."

Captain Gerrard was back after a two-month absence, having been sidelined since October with an ankle problem, and he played the final 21 minutes.

"He needs to get some time on the pitch," said Dalglish.

"With him and Bellers (Craig Bellamy) coming on, it was to try and do something a little bit different to see if we could get something.

"From his (Gerrard's) first free-kick, we went close with a header. It is smashing to have him back."

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