Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Dalglish Wants Finishing Touch

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish called on his team to be more clinical after they were defeated 3-0 by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The visitors enjoyed a large share of possession but again failed to make it count, which has been their Achilles heel for most of the season.

It was Liverpool's first game without Luis Suarez after the club decided against appealing his eight-game ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra.

In his absence the team struggled for a cutting edge and Dalglish reckons they need to find one sooner rather than later.

"We have got to be clinical, and we have got to get that into our make-up - we didn't have that," he told Sky Sports.

"We had a good chance early on and then we lose a goal. The second one came from a corner. Pepe made a great save from the previous corner, and then they go down to 10 men, which is a bit unfortunate for them.

"But they go down to ten men and almost immediately we give away a penalty kick from our free-kick.

"It was difficult, but we have to be more clinical, if we are going to get to where we all want to go. It's a lesson learnt for us, and we have to take it on the chin and make sure we don't have a repeat of it."

Reina was at fault for City's first goal as he allowed Sergio Aguero's shot to squirm under his body, before Yaya Toure added a second with a powerful header.

James Milner added the third from the penalty spot moments after Gareth Barry had been dismissed for his second booking.

However, the Reds chief refused to criticize his Spanish 'keeper for City's opener.

"We are not going to come out and be critical of anybody," he added.

"There is not a player that's ever played that's not made a mistake, and that is the most important thing.

"The ball took a helluva dip, but for us I think that sums up what the night was all about.

"I think there were a lot of mistakes made by a lot of our players. Unfortunately when a goalkeeper makes one, there is not much comeback from it."

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