Why Kenny Saw Red

Henry Winter believes Kenny Dalglish's outburst following the Bolton defeat is "unprecedented" in the history of Liverpool Football Club.

The Reds boss publically criticized members of his squad following the 3-1 loss at the Reebok Stadium, accusing them of showing a lack of respect to their opponents and being distracted by Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final second leg with Manchester City and next weekend's FA Cup clash with Manchester United.

Dalglish also hinted that some of his players could be sold if they don't change their approach and Daily Telegraph Football Correspondent Winter felt the outburst was out of character for the Scot.

He says Dalglish and Liverpool rarely air such issues in public, so he must have been particularly aggrieved with his players on Saturday.

Winter told the Sunday Supplement: "If you look at Dalglish, has he had a go at his players before?

"I don't think he did at Newcastle, I don't think he did at Blackburn Rovers or in his first incarnation at Liverpool Football Club as manager.

"This is unprecedented. It's unprecedented for Dalglish and it's pretty unprecedented for Liverpool, who like to do their talking on issues like this, team matters, in the dressing room.

"I just think his anger was justified because clearly the players were playing the game ahead, the cup games, rather than giving Bolton the respect they deserved.

"That word respect is huge for Dalglish and he kept on mentioning it in his press conference. They were really poor."

Winter also pointed out that Dalglish must shoulder some of the blame himself.

Alongside Director of Football Damien Comolli he has spent millions of pounds on players such as Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson in the last 12 months.

And having signed the players, Winter says Dalglish must accept he is partly responsible for Liverpool's poor performances.

He added: "I think Dalglish has to look at his players because these players are ones that he has brought in.

"You can argue that it's Comolli pushing them in, but Dalglish sanctioned those signings.

"The players that he's substituted and the players - although he's not naming them - that he has criticized are ones that he brought in a year ago.

"I can understand there may be a certain microclimate going on this week with Liverpool in terms of the cup games, but a lot of those players have been underperforming all season."