Ian Rush: No Top Four For Liverpool

Kenny Dalglish can’t propel Liverpool to a dream top-four Premier League finish – despite turning the Reds’ season around.

That’s according to Kop legend Ian Rush, who says Champions League qualification is beyond the Merseysiders this term.

But he insists that the appointment of Dalglish WILL ultimately lead to glory.

Dalglish has galvanized Liverpool since replacing Roy Hodgson in January and the Anfield side is hovering on the fringes in sixth place – just behind Chelsea after a run of four league wins and a draw.

The results included a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge after selling Fernando Torres to the Blues for £50million.

Dalglish spent the cash on Newcastle ace Andy Carroll and midfielder Luis Suarez from Ajax.

But despite a new mood of optimism at the club, Rush says thoughts of a speedy return to the Champions League are premature. “For me it is too much to expect a top-four place this season,” said the former Wales hitman.

“It’s something that will probably be beyond Liverpool but that doesn’t mean what Kenny has done isn’t fantastic.

“The fans must be patient and remember that it wasn’t long ago people were talking about a relegation battle,” said Rush, who hit 229 goals in 469 games for the Reds.

“But without doubt Kenny is the right man and I’m sure Liverpool can still have a say in who wins the title.

“We have still got to play Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City and Spurs.

“And it’s such a crazy league with everyone capable of beating everyone else you can see the influence they could have on the destiny of the title.”

And former Wales striker Rush reckons Liverpool’s owners – John W Henry’s New England Sports Ventures – have shown their intention of making a bigger impact next season by splashing the Torres cash.

“It is a massive statement of intent. A top-four finish is unlikely to happen this year but I’m sure we’ll be in with a shout next time.”

Jamie Carragher has also issued a reality-check message to fans convinced Dalglish is about to bring the good times back.

A draw with Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday night and an FA Cup Fifth Round weekend without any football indicates where Liverpool currently stand.

Carra says there is a lot of hard work ahead and said: “Liverpool get a lot of criticism.

“People say we live in the past – that we should be winning this and that.

“But the truth is Liverpool have not won the league for the past 20 years.

“Kenny did a fantastic job in his first spell but Liverpool was already steeped in success. In the two years before his appointment they had been to two European Cup finals.

“I hear people criticize Gerard Houllier and Rafael Benitez, saying they are failures because they didn’t win the league. – yet I have to disagree with that.

“But if Kenny can get us back to where we were when he left in 1991, that in itself would be a brilliant achievement.”

Kuyt Tips Reds For Euro Win

Dirk Kuyt insists Liverpool will triumph over Sparta Prague next week at Anfield.

A much-changed Liverpool team failed to take advantage of the fact their opponents have not played a competitive game for two months, due to their winter break, during Thursday's goalless first leg.

However, the Holland striker was able to extract some positives from the result - most notably the fact they did not concede.

"You always want to win and that's what we wanted," said Kuyt.

"It's always important to score an away goal in Europe but it is never bad not to lose.

"It was a tough game, they defended well and we struggled with the pitch and the weather - it was a bit difficult.

"I think the positive thing is the clean sheet.

"Where we could, we tried to score but unfortunately that didn't happen but I think we are in a great position to win next week.

"We're playing well at Anfield, we have to win. It is always difficult for European teams at Anfield, the crowd will be behind us and we'll definitely play at a higher tempo.

"The ball can be moved more quickly and I've got a lot of confidence that we can go through next week."

Juventus Will Pay Only €6m For Alberto Aquilani

Juventus have told Liverpool that they do not intend to meet Alberto Aquilani’s hefty €20 million price-tag, and that the Reds will have to renegotiate his €12m buy-out clause if they want Juve to take the Italian off their hands on a permanent basis – according to a report in The Mirror.

Former Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson loaned Aquilani to Juventus for the current season at the start of the campaign, as the midfielder sought match fitness following a difficult first year at Anfield in which he suffered repeated set-backs through injury and failed to find his form.

The ex-Roma star struggled to settle into life on Merseyside, but has recently enjoyed a decent spell with Juventus, and will potentially make his move to Turin permanent.

However, the Serie A side has told Liverpool that they will need to reduce significantly the €12m buy-out clause inserted into the loan contract. Juve's financial constraints mean they are only prepared to pay €6m for Aquilani.

But Liverpool now have a new manager at the helm in Kenny Dalglish, who may decide to recall the 26-year-old, reintegrate him into the Reds' squad and make use of him in his future plans.

Johnson Happy Seeing Liverpool Kids Involved In Euro Tie

Liverpool fullback Glen Johnson was happy seeing so many of their youngsters involved in their 0-0 draw at Europa League opponents Sparta Prague.

Johnson had words of comfort for the youngsters who made the trip to Prague as Dalglish included Conor Coady, Jack Robinson, Raheem Sterling and John Flanagan in his squad. Coady made the bench.

"They are good lads, they want to learn and they are pleased to be involved with the first team and all of us made them feel really welcome," he told liverpoolfc.tv.

"They have been training well and they deserve to be a part of it."

New Deals For Dirk Kuyt And Pepe Reina At Liverpool

Liverpool is ready to hand keeper Pepe Reina a £10,000-a-week pay rise to keep him out of the clutches of Manchester United.

And Dutch star Dirk Kuyt is poised to sign a new deal that will keep him at Anfield for the rest of his career.

It’s the clearest sign yet that caretaker boss Kenny Dalglish WILL be handed the role full-time by American owner John Henry, who is delighted with the Scot’s impact since he replaced Roy Hodgson.

Reina gave Kopites a major scare last week when he refused to rule out a summer move, confessing he is desperate for regular Champions League football. United, searching for a long-term successor for soon-to-retire Edwin van der Sar, head the queue of clubs in the running for one of Europe’s best keepers.

But the Spaniard’s agent Manuel Garcia Quilon is to meet Liverpool’s top brass next month to discuss a pay rise that will see Reina pocket £110,000 a week.

That’s hugely reassuring for Kopites, who have already seen one hero-worshipped Spaniard – Fernando Torres – leave Anfield this year.

And the feelgood factor will be increased by the news Kuyt wants to finish his career on Merseyside.

The Dutchman, 30, said: “My contract has one more season to go after this but there are things happening.

“We have had some talks and I can only say it looks positive.

“I feel at home in Liverpool and I don’t want to leave here.

“It has been a difficult time for everyone at the club with the changes that have happened since last summer but now I can sense something good is happening – I think Liverpool is on the way back.”

Fairclough Likens Meireles To McDermott

Liverpool icon David Fairclough has likened Raul Meireles to former teammate Terry McDermott.

The Kop legend is a big admirer of Liverpool's No.4 and he has no doubt that playing the midfielder in a central role will always bring out the best in him.

"Meireles is a class act, there's no doubt about that," Fairclough told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"We have to be really impressed by his form in front of goal at the moment. I like his desire to get into the box and the runs he makes.

"The run he made for the goal against Chelsea was fantastic because he was on the halfway line and he showed a fantastic desire to get into the box which is so important.

"Getting forward is a regular feature in his game now and he looks very comfortable playing under Kenny.

"I think it is very favourable to make comparisons with Terry McDermott and Raul does remind me of him.

"Terry scored some spectacular goals for Liverpool, some of the best in our history, and he made these trademark runs.

"Meireles makes similar runs and he is a big asset for our team."

Comolli Role Under Scrutiny At Liverpool

Liverpool football chief Damien Comolli's position is coming under intense scrutiny.

The Daily Mail says when Kenny Dalglish is confirmed as the permanent Liverpool manager, insiders are standing by for a power battle with director of football strategy Comolli.

Dalglish has an old-school managerial attitude of liking to be in sole command.

So how he copes with Comolli will be an intriguing sub-plot, especially as Dalglish has expert knowledge himself of European football.

Youngsters Hit Four Past Stoke

Raheem Sterling grabbed a brace and Conor Coady hit a thunderbolt as Liverpool U18s made it six straight wins with a 4-1 triumph against Stoke City on Saturday afternoon.

The Reds' skipper fired home an unstoppable volley to open the scoring on 28 minutes before the winger everyone is talking about tapped home the second after a superb run and cross from Brad Smith.

The visitors did pull one back just prior to the interval when Patrik Poor headed into his own net but Adam Morgan and Sterling both added second-half goals to seal the points.

Ahead of the clash Rodolfo Borrell included Coady and Sterling in his starting XI despite their exertions with the first-team squad in Prague.

It was clear the Reds coach was eager not to lose focus following the emphatic 9-0 success over Southend in the Youth Cup but it was the away side who made most of the early running.

On 11 minutes a right-wing cross from Michael Clarkson was met on the run by Flo Cavalier, but the midfielder guided his controlled volley wide of target.

The Potters skipper was proving to be a thorn in Liverpool's side and he was unlucky not to earn a penalty soon after when Stephen Sama appeared to bring him down in the area.

The hosts had struggled to get in behind the Stoke rearguard but snatched the lead just shy of the half hour mark when Coady caught a volley that arrowed into the corner of the net with Dave Parton rooted to the spot.

It was a goal of the season contender from the 17-year-old and capped a week that had seen him net at the Kop end as well as appear as an unused substitute for the first-team's Europa League draw in Sparta Prague.

The opening goal seemed to help the Reds settle and seven minutes later they doubled their lead.

Matty McGiveron played in Smith down the left flank. The Australian showed great control to take the ball on the run before delivering an inch perfect centre for Sterling to guide home from inside the six yard box.

The Reds were now in complete control but they were given a warning of Stoke's threat just before half-time when a high ball into the box was flicked into his own net by Poor.

Borrell's charges would have been well aware of the Potters' threat having been beaten in Staffordshire early in the campaign and the Reds coach would have called for his side to start the second period with renewed desire.

They did just that too and restored their two goal advantage on 52 minutes.

Krisztian Adorjan produced a through ball that sent Sterling speeding in on goal. The winger was driven wide by Parton but showed great awareness to pick out Morgan, who slid home at the second time of asking after Andy Hall had blocked his initial effort.

The Reds suddenly had the bit between their teeth and five minutes later it was all over as a contest.

Another sublime pass from Adorjan sent Sterling through again. The youngster hit a low shot that Parton got a big hand on but despite the efforts of Hall to clear off the line, the referee's assistant awarded the goal.

The diminutive forward then came within a whisker of netting his hat-trick but his teasing curler was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Parton.

It was one of the last acts of the day for one of the club's emerging talents as he was replaced by Tom Walsh on 64 minutes. It brought to an end six sensational days for the No.7 who netted seven times and was involved in Kenny Dalglish's Europa League squad.

His absence did little to quell the tide of Liverpool pressure as the hosts continued to play champagne football.

Substitutes Josh Sumner and Tom Walsh both had chances to add to the margin of victory late on but it wasn't to be.

Reds Are Taking The Europa League Very Seriously Indeed

Although it isn’t the best competition to take part in, the UEFA Europa League offers Liverpool a great chance for silverware and a platform on which to build for next season.

Despite last night’s draw against Sparta Prague, the Reds still have a good opportunity to progress all the way to the final should they take this competition seriously. While it may not have the glamour or prestige of its big brother, the UEFA Champions League, it is a competition that holds special memories for the Merseysiders and has provided as many memorable moments in years gone by.

Under its former guise, the UEFA Cup, they have won it a joint record three times and their most recent success in 2001 is still fondly remembered as much as any other triumph in Europe over the years. Not only did they beat the likes of Roma and Porto, they also managed to overcome Barcelona in the semi-finals before taking part in one of the most dramatic finals in recent history, defeating Alaves 5-4 after extra time.

With that in mind, everyone connected to Liverpool should see this year’s competition as a chance to put some much needed silverware in the Anfield cabinet, which has been gathering dust for almost five years when they last won the FA Cup. After all, the philosophy of England’s most successful club is to win trophies so why turn down the chance to win the Europa League if that is the case?

Should Liverpool defeat Sparta Prague next week and then prevail against Braga or Lech Poznan, they will surely fancy their chances in a competition with few favourites.

Although Manchester City with their vastly expensive squad and capable of the odd excellent performance, they have rarely set pulses rating with their inability to defeat teams such as Aris on Tuesday night. Plus, their defeat to Lech Poznan in the group stages showed that Mancini’s men are vulnerable when teams attack them.

Another side that are seen as potential favourites, FC Porto, continue to impress under Andre Villas-Boas having gone through the group stages unbeaten and most recently defeating Sevilla 2-1 away from home last night. Should they carry on their rich vein of form then they will surely be favourites to reach the final in Dublin in May.

But there is still a lot of football to be played between now and then, and a lot can change. Should Liverpool reach the final, then it will surely be considered an achievement given the difficulties they have endured during the course of this season.

Ibrahim Afellay Linked With Summer Anfield Swoop

Liverpool are reportedly preparing a summer swoop for Barcelona winger Ibrahim Afellay.

The Dutch wing wizard is out-of-favour at the Nou Camp after joining the La Liga outfit in the summer, and Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is reportedly keen on bringing the player to Anfield.

Afellay was linked with a Liverpool switch in the summer as his PSV Eindhoven contract ran down, but the player moved to Spain instead in a bid to further his career.

However, times have been tough at the Catalan outfit, and talkSPORT claims that Pep Guardiola may be tempted by an offer from the Merseysiders.

Barca landed the player for €3 million, but Liverpool will have to pay more than that to bring the player to the Barclays Premier League.

NESV proved that they are willing to back the manager financially in January, spending £55 million on striker additions at the club in the shape of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.

Dalglish has hinted that Liverpool will spend again at the end of the season, and the winger who can also play in a secondary striker role could be the ideal purchase.

Georginio Wijnaldum Is A Transfer Target For Liverpool

Highly rated Feyenoord winger Georginio Wijnaldum is a transfer target for Liverpool reports insidefutbol.com.

The 20-year-old midfielder is one of the hottest prospects in Eredivisie and has attracted the attention of a number of leading European clubs including AC Milan, and Real Madrid.

But it is Liverpool who have registered the firmest interest with sources in the Dutch media claiming Anfield scouts were in the stands to watch the Feyenoord ace in action against Heracles in a recent league encounter.

Wijnaldum is a product of the youth system at De Kuip and made his senior debut for the outfit as a teenager back in 2007.

The Holland under 21 international is considered by many to be a 'rough diamond' - desperate to be developed into a superstar under the right tutelage; something he could achieve at Liverpool.

Kenny Dalglish has already demonstrated the influence he can have over his players, with the confidence instilled in the Liverpool squad the driving force behind their recent charge up the Barclays Premier League table.

Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt could also prove to be a key figure in the quest to bring Wijnaldum to Anfield, with the former serving as a mentor to the latter during his time at Feyenoord.

"Dirk Kuyt is my role model. He left Feyenoord when he was the best, I am not that far," said Wijnaldum.

Liverpool Locked In Battle For £7m Sensation

Aston Villa are reportedly ready to join the race for Liverpool target Xherdan Shaqiri.

The fleet-footed winger's profile rose dramatically after he scored a stunning goal against England as Switzerland fell to a 3-1 defeat in the Euro 2012 qualifier in September.

He has since been linked with a move to a number of top European clubs - most notably Liverpool and Juventus - and, according to talkSPORT, Aston Villa are also closely monitoring his progress.

The 19-year-old helped FC Basel to the league and cup double last season in his rookie campaign and - should Villa beat Liverpool to his signature - the Swiss would only add to the battery of young talent currently on display at Villa Park.

Former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier has been keen to blood as many youngsters during his brief spell with the Villans - something which Villa wideman Marc Albrighton was keen to pay tribute to.

“You can see what he’s doing here. He’s giving all the youngsters a chance and it breeds confidence throughout like he did with the lads at Liverpool," he told talkSPORT.

“When he was there he brought through some great players and he’s doing exactly the same here, he’s developing the young players.

“All we want to do is learn and become better players and hopefully we can do that on the Premier League stage.”

However, Villa are likely to have to fight off the advances of several suitors if they wish to sign Shaqiri - who is good enough to compete at the highest level, according to Basel's sporting director.

Ilya Kentsing said: "Shaqiri is a player for a big team and he could play for any top club," Kentsing said. "But we have no agreement yet with any club."

Shaqiri himself is thought to be keen on a move to England - and to Liverpool in particularly - and it was reported in December that he was hopeful the Reds would revive the interest they had shown in him during Rafa Benitez's tenure at Anfield.

Jamie Carragher: Martin Kelly Has Improved Under Kenny Dalglish

Jamie Carragher has attributed Martin Kelly's rise at Liverpool to the arrival of Kenny Dalglish as manager.

Under former Anfield and newly appointed West Brom manager Roy Hodgson, Kelly saw limited first-team chances in the Premier League and was reduced to appearances predominantly in the Europa League.

But since Dalglish’s introduction in January, Kelly has failed to appear in just one of the nine games the Scot has managed.

First-choice right-back Glen Johnson has been ousted from his role to accommodate Kelly and with the England international plying his trade confidently on his unnatural opposite flank, the 20-year-old looks set to cement his place in the first-team.

The 20-year-old has started all but one of Kenny Dalglish's nine matches in charge since the Scot was installed as Reds boss until the end of the season last month.

Carragher insists Kelly’s form is down to Dalglish’s belief in the club’s younger players and the veteran is impressed at how the right-back has settle into his role.

"Since Kenny's come in, he's really taken off," Carragher told LFC Weekly.

"I remember in his full debut against Lyon [last season] he was outstanding. Then he got injured and when that happens, it's difficult to get another chance.

"Since the United game, England's first-choice right-back [Glen Johnson] has been getting picked at left-back so that shows you how well he's done and how highly he's regarded.”

Carragher insists Kelly has much to learn but the 33-year-old believes his team-mate’s pace and energy should serve him well in future campaigns.

"He's still young and his understanding of the game will develop with experience but he's already a fantastic athlete,” said Carragher.

“His pace means he can get out of trouble when he does make a mistake. That ability to recover with speed was something I never had and he has that in abundance.

“I was in the stand against Everton and when he made that run past Leighton Baines, I thought it was Thierry Henry against me all those years ago. It was turbo charged.

"Modern full-backs need to be tall and Martin is very good at defending headers at the back post.”

Eccleston Attracting Interest

Skysports.com understands that Nathan Eccleston's impressive form on loan at Charlton Athletic has attracted interest from Everton and Hull City.

The Liverpool youngster is currently on loan with the League One high-flyers for the remainder of the season.

The 20-year-old has been in fine form for Chris Powell's side having followed up his Man of the Match display against Peterborough with a goal against Hartlepool.

Eccleston has been a regular since arriving at The Valley and he is relishing the opportunity to play consistent first-team football.

Everton and Hull City are now thought to be keeping tabs on the Manchester-born marksman, who is well down the pecking order at Anfield.

Eccleston spent time on loan with Huddersfield Town last season and scored on his debut in a 1-0 win over Yeovil Town.

Wilson Targets More Starts

Danny Wilson is hoping his performance during the goalless draw with Sparta Prague will lead to him starting more games this season.

The Scottish international made his first start under Kenny Dalglish and gave an accomplished display at left-back as the Reds kept their fifth clean sheet out of their last six games.

"I've not played in two months since the Utrecht game so I was delighted the manager gave me the nod to play," Wilson told Liverpoolfc.tv.

"Defenders are always happy with a clean sheet, I enjoyed it, and hopefully I can be involved in the next match."

Liverpool's No.22 is confident Dalglish's side can complete their task in hand and beat the reigning Czech Champions at Anfield in next Thursday's second leg.

"To come away from Prague with a 0-0 scoreline is a good result for us to take back to Anfield and hopefully we can now do the job next week," he added.

"I think we will have to take the game to them at Anfield more than we did tonight because the first game was all about making sure we didn't concede and get a good result to take into the second leg.

"We have done that and at Anfield we can try and open them up a bit more."

Kenny Dalglish Keeping His Feet On The Ground About Young Prodigy Raheem Sterling

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish remains cautiously optimistic about youngster Raheem Sterling, who will become the club's youngest ever player if he features against Sparta Prague on Thursday.

The Reds boss is keeping his feet on the ground when it comes to the youngster, so as not to let hype hurt the development of the prodigy.

And alongside Sterling, Dalglish has also selected John Flanagan, Conor Coady, Tom Ince and Jack Robinson from the youth team and he is keen to give them a taste of first-team life.

"You've got to be very, very responsible when you're talking about Raheem," Dalglish told reporters.

"It's fantastic for him to be involved as it is for the three other lads. Obviously Tom Ince has been involved before but for the four lads from the youth team it's a fantastic occasion.

"We want to make sure they feel part and parcel of the football club. They are here because they deserve to be here and maybe because of the injuries we've got at the moment it dictates that they are here.

"They've done very well but none of them will be carried away with the result the other night in the Youth Cup."

However, Dalglish is keen to ensure that the young stars keep their feet on the ground and don’t get too carried away.

"They have done very well and none of them will be carried away by the result in the Youth Cup," he said, referring to the 9-0 drubbing that the young Reds handed out to Southend.

"We will be sensible with the kids. We don't have to manage the expectations of anyone other than the media, they are the ones who have blown it out of proportion.

"Raheem might have got the praise for the performance the other night but there were a lot of people who deserved it."

The forward scored five goals in the Liverpool youth side’s incredible 9-0 FA Youth Cup win over Southend on Monday, which was the performance that earned him a spot in the senior squad for the trip to play Sparta Prague.

But the youngster's achievements do not surprise his former club Queens Park Rangers' head of youth development, Steve Gallen, who said in the Daily Mail: "We always knew he was good.

"He had many nicknames when he played for us. One of them was simply 'The Magician'. Another was 'Raheem Park Rangers' because sometimes he would carry the team on his own."

Gallen also recollected one of the youngster's performances at his former club, where he plied his trade until last season.

"I moved him up to the Under 16s when he was 14 and he was the best player on the pitch. He came on as a sub against Millwall and there was this long ball from the goalkeeper. He watched it drop over his shoulder and volleyed it straight into the top corner. I was glad no scouts were there that day.

"This became normal. His ability is frightening. Balance, speed, awareness. No-one I've ever seen compares to him. He's a fantastic player and I really hope he does well."

The head of youth development of Sterling's former club also maintained that the 16-year-old had no airs about him, and hailed the forward's focus when it comes to striving towards winning a game.

"I've seen England Under 16 kids walking around like they own the country but not this boy," Gallen said. "He's too focused on winning. I've seen him get smashed by some giants and he gets up and carries on. No histrionics. He's small but made of granite."

Broughton To Sue Americans

Former Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are to be sued by the club's ex-chairman, Sir Martin Broughton, for defamation.

Hicks alleged Broughton was part of an 'epic swindle' when the latter oversaw the £300million sale of the club in 2010.

The American claims he lost £140m as a result of the sale against his wishes and was critical of Broughton in the process.

Broughton told The Times: "I am suing to have my name cleared, not for any money.

"They made accusations of fraud and conspiracy which were wholly unfounded. I am not losing any sleep. I know I acted properly."

On Thursday, Hicks lost his bid to overturn an injunction preventing him launching legal action over the sale in the United States without prior approval from an English court.

Mr. Justice Floyd, who made the ruling, criticized the delaying tactics of Hicks and Gillett, both during the sale process and in the subsequent months.

The judge also dismissed an application to strike out or stay claims by Broughton.

New England Sports Ventures' application to be allowed to join the Broughton action was granted by the judge.

Match Report: Sparta Prague 0 - 0 Liverpool

Kenny Dalglish waited 9,394 days to get the chance to manage Liverpool in Europe but after a turgid Europa League goalless draw against Sparta Prague he must have wondered why he looked forward to it so much.

The 59-year-old missed out on continental competition in his first spell as Reds boss because of the ban on English clubs after the Heysel disaster.

Despite the significance of his debut, this last-32 first-leg match in the Czech Republic is unlikely to live long in Dalglish's or anyone else's memory.

Goalkeeper Jose Reina was Liverpool's best - and busiest - player with a few good saves, but even then he was not severely tested.

The visitors' play was disjointed and lacked a cutting edge but crucially they kept a clean sheet and Dalglish will be hopeful next week's home leg, when captain Steven Gerrard should be available after a groin problem, will provide greater satisfaction.

In the biting cold of the Generali Arena the game never really got going and although Liverpool tried to gain control by holding on to possession they never managed to make any ground by doing so.

In fact, it was Sparta who created the few chances, most of which were created from wide positions as full-backs Ondrej Kusnir, on the right, and the particularly effective Manuel Pamic advanced at regular intervals.

That was in contrast to Liverpool's two wide defenders, with Glen Johnson, back in his more familiar right-sided role, and Danny Wilson, a centre-back playing on the left, rarely getting the opportunity to go forward.

Pamic gave Johnson problems in the first half and almost capitalized to great effect in the 17th minute.

Martin Abena slid a pass inside the England defender and Pamic raced into the penalty area to drill a low shot from a narrow angle which Reina parried to safety.

Even the normally unflappable Spain international was not immune to the general untidiness which littered Liverpool's play and when he could only parry Kusnir's deep cross into the path of Pamic he was relived to see the defender blaze over with his weaker right foot.

Sotirios Kyrgiakos was next to the Reds' rescue, putting in a diving block to halt former Reading midfielder Marek Matejovsky's shot as it travelled goalwards.

With a lack of central midfielders, having left Gerrard and expectant father Christian Poulsen at home, the last thing Dalglish needed was to see Fabio Aurelio forced off with an injury in the first half.

It prompted a reshuffle with Raul Meireles withdrawn from his advanced role, from where he had scored five goals in six previous matches, to allow Joe Cole to come on.

The second half was little different from what had gone before except for Liverpool enjoying slightly more possession.

But the successful passing game which had been so evident in their six-match unbeaten Barclays Premier League run never really got going.

Sparta continued to pose the greater threat, however, and Leony Kweuke headed just wide from range on the hour.

Liverpool's best chance came with 20 minutes to go when Lucas Leiva's lofted pass picked out Johnson on the right of the penalty area.

He weaved inside but instead of shooting with his left foot - with which he has scored some screamers from range - he opted for the outside of his right and poked the ball past the far post.

The match was held up for a couple of minutes after a flare let off by Sparta fans behind Reina's goal clouded the pitch in thick smoke and there would have been few complaints had it blanked out the rest of the game.

When play did resume Reina had to be alert to stop Kweuke's shot on the turn from a corner, while Matejovsky's 25-yard effort curled just wide of the goalkeeper's right-hand post.

Dalglish switched to a back three for the last six minutes, with Slovakian Martin Skrtel receiving a predictably hostile welcome from the Czech crowd when he replaced Ngog.

Kamil Vacek almost snatched a winner with a long-range strike which whistled past the upright but Liverpool held on for a clean sheet which makes life slightly easier for them in a week's time.

Kenny Not Giving Up On Cole

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish insists he is determined to give Joe Cole all the time he needs to become an Anfield success story.

The Reds won the battle to land Cole on a free transfer in the summer following his exit from Chelsea.

But since his nightmare debut which saw him receive a red card, Cole has failed to make the expected impact, with a series of injuries also hampering his progress.

Cole made his first appearance under Dalglish during the Reds' goalless draw with Sparta Prague in the Europa League and the Liverpool boss insists the England man is very much in his plans.

"We have got to be patient with Joe. That his first run out since I came here," said Dalglish.

"That is a great start for him, to get himself on the pitch and get an hour won't do him any harm.

"Joe is a valuable asset for us. Obviously he is not going to pick his form up immediately, if he does it will be a real bonus for us.

"But we are not going to put him under pressure and expect him to be the Joe Cole who came to Liverpool in the summer.

"We want to give him a bit of time and make sure he gets there. Form is temporary, class is permanent and that is where we stand with Joe.

"We'll give him a bit of time to get up to speed and then we'll judge him. Joe needs his injury rebuilding so we'll get that right first."

Kenny Dalglish Takes Positives From 0-0 Draw With Sparta Prague

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has declared himself pleased with his side's performance following their 0-0 draw with Sparta Prague in the Round of 32 Europa League clash in the Czech capital.

Neither side created many chances, with the visitors failing to get an attempt on target in the entire game but the Anfield outfit will surely have the upper hand ahead of the return leg on Merseyside next Thursday.

Dalglish fielded a makeshift side in what was his first European tie as Liverpool manager and admitted that the goalless draw was a fair result.

Speaking to Five, the Reds boss said: "Obviously it wasn't a classic, we came here and thought if we kept them to nil we'd be reasonably happy.

"The onus is on them to try and put us under a wee bit of pressure and they didn't really put us under pressure at the back or in possession, they didn't close up and most of the time it came from us but they had a couple of opportunities as well.

"On the night, 0-0 is fair enough really."

The Scot also spoke of the importance of providing first-team football for a number of his squad players during the clash at the Generali Arena.

He said: "We've got to remember that we've got a few players out injured and we've had a few players come in for this game. Soto [Kyrgiakos] has come in and done really well, David Ngog came in up front and did reasonably well. [There was] a few people that needed games.

"Danny Wilson came in, that was his first European tie for us as well so there's a lot of value to come out of the game. Obviously if we'd won the game we would have come out of it a lot happier but it was useful for us."