Glen Johnson could be the player who helps push Liverpool closer to the Premier League crown, according to club legend Kenny Dalglish, who was a relentless trophy magnet as both a player and manager.
Johnson's style, a roaming right-back who can act almost as an auxiliary playmaker occupying the flank, is in keeping with the Anfield tradition, claims Dalglish, who also believes that the former Portsmouth player’s Britishness will see him adapt to life on Merseyside with ease.
"Attacking full-backs have always been important to the way Liverpool sides have played," Dalglish informed local newspaper The Liverpool Echo. "Historically, even going back to the days of [Bill] Shankly, we have always been a club who have put great faith in players in those positions having a certain comfort on the ball.
"Even in teams where there were out-and-out wingers, you could normally rely on the full-backs getting forward to join in with the attack.
"I think Glen Johnson will prove to be an excellent acquisition over the course of his Anfield career. I also think that he can improve as a defender at Liverpool. He’s proven he can attack with the best of them, and he’s secured the position of first-choice full-back at international level under Fabio Capello, so he can defend.
"But working on things with [manager Rafael Benitez] and having a player of the experience of [Jamie] Carragher playing in the same back four will benefit him in the long run.
"Ultimately, the more threat you carry going forward, the better that will be for our prospects this season.
"He’s British, so there’s no cultural barrier to him settling down at Melwood, and he’ll know most of the boys having played with them for England or against them in the league and cups.
"It’s all positive," the 58-year-old concluded.
Johnson's style, a roaming right-back who can act almost as an auxiliary playmaker occupying the flank, is in keeping with the Anfield tradition, claims Dalglish, who also believes that the former Portsmouth player’s Britishness will see him adapt to life on Merseyside with ease.
"Attacking full-backs have always been important to the way Liverpool sides have played," Dalglish informed local newspaper The Liverpool Echo. "Historically, even going back to the days of [Bill] Shankly, we have always been a club who have put great faith in players in those positions having a certain comfort on the ball.
"Even in teams where there were out-and-out wingers, you could normally rely on the full-backs getting forward to join in with the attack.
"I think Glen Johnson will prove to be an excellent acquisition over the course of his Anfield career. I also think that he can improve as a defender at Liverpool. He’s proven he can attack with the best of them, and he’s secured the position of first-choice full-back at international level under Fabio Capello, so he can defend.
"But working on things with [manager Rafael Benitez] and having a player of the experience of [Jamie] Carragher playing in the same back four will benefit him in the long run.
"Ultimately, the more threat you carry going forward, the better that will be for our prospects this season.
"He’s British, so there’s no cultural barrier to him settling down at Melwood, and he’ll know most of the boys having played with them for England or against them in the league and cups.
"It’s all positive," the 58-year-old concluded.
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