John Barnes Gives Backing To Under Fire Dalglish

Liverpool hero John Barnes has reiterated the face that he believes no manager is immune from criticism but has made it clear that he believes Kenny Dalglish is still the man to take the Reds forward.

The Scot has come under increasing pressure after a string of bad results in the league that has seen them lose six out of their last seven games and slip down to eighth place.

Liverpool are now closer to the relegation zone than they are to fourth place as Dalglish has begun to be questioned following a huge investment of more than £100million last year.

"We're in the results business and Kenny is no different to anyone else. If Sir Alex Ferguson goes through a run of losing games, he's going to be in trouble. No matter who you are, it's a results-driven business," Barnes told the BBC.

"No-one is immune. There are people talking about it - we have seen it, we have heard it. It does happen, but you also have to be realistic in terms of the effect it will have on what you are trying to achieve.

"And the people in the know - how much are they going to support you? Kenny is well supported, so he won't take any notice of that."

Despite some dreadful results in the league, Liverpool has remained an excellent cup side and is still in with a chance of adding the FA Cup to the Carling Cup success.

"In the league they have not been consistent enough - and that is what doing well in the league is all about, being consistent week in, week out," declared the man who was signed by Dalglish in his first spell in charge of the club.

"Liverpool over the years has been a good cup side but it is disappointing in the league."

Barnes was part of a very successful Liverpool side that dominated the league and cup competitions under Dalglish and he believes the players and supporters need to get behind the manager.

Aldridge: Liverpool Are In Crisis And A Laughing Stock

Former Anfield forward not particularly impressed with Liverpool under his former boss.

Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge has insisted his old club are “in a crisis” following last weekend’s defeat by Newcastle — their sixth loss in seven Premier League games.

Liverpool have won this season’s League Cup — their first trophy in six years — and return to Wembley a week on Saturday for an FA Cup semi-final with Merseyside rivals Everton.

However, their 2-0 loss to Newcastle left Liverpool eighth in the table, with the five-times European champions 16 points off a place in next season’s Champions League and only seven Premier League matches remaining this season.

Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge claims the Reds are now a club “in crisis”.

“There is no getting away from the fact that Liverpool are now in a crisis,” Aldridge, who played under manager Kenny Dalglish in the 1980s during the Anfield great’s first spell in charge, wrote in Tuesday’s Liverpool Echo.

“To lose six out of seven in the league is something the club won’t ever tolerate, we can’t tolerate that.

“To have picked up just eight points out of 36 since the turn of the year is shambolic — that’s relegation form.

“The fact that this is the worst run in the league since 1954 speaks volumes. Questions are being asked and they need to be answered.

“The eyes of the world are on Liverpool and the critics are having a field day. We’re becoming a laughing stock.

“We’re all proud to be associated with the club and everything it has achieved over the years. But at the moment being a Liverpool fan is just embarrassing and that’s something I haven’t had to say before.”

Aldridge added the bulk of the blame rested with the players, rather than Dalglish, who has nevertheless come under fire for his transfer market dealings, with Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam, who between them cost some £85 million, having so far failed to produce the goods.

“The team just seems to have lost their belief,” said Aldridge. “You can blame the manager and the coaching staff but at the end of the day it comes down to the players.

“They are getting paid unbelievable amounts of money and aren’t producing the goods.

“Some of them should take a long hard look in the mirror.

“They are playing for Liverpool Football Club – one of the biggest clubs in the world – it doesn’t get much better than that.

“They need to realize how lucky they are and start doing it or their Anfield careers won’t last much longer.”

He added: “More than anything I want to see some pride. That’s all we’re playing for in the league now but there doesn’t seem to be much pride around.”

Liverpool & Everton Fans Unite For Semi-Final Action Against The Sun

The Hillsborough Justice Campaign have announced they are to follow up their campaign that saw 25,000 posters distributed at the Carling Cup Final with another 30,000 Don’t Buy The Sun posters for the FA Cup semi-final against neighbours Everton at Wembley.

The match takes place on the eve of the 23rd anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, and resulting boycott of the ‘newspaper’ since.

There will be 20,000 posters available in red and 10,000 in blue, and these will be handed out around Wembley stadium on the day.

The HJC ask supporters from both teams to show support and unity by spreading the word amongst fellow fans via websites, forums, social networks, supporters clubs and word of mouth, as well as holding up their posters inside the stadium prior to kick-off on the day.

Liverpool Blow As Top Transfer Target Suffers Injury

Liverpool's plan of rejuvenating their leaky backline has been hit by the news that Inigo Martinez has been ruled out for five months.

The Real Sociedad defender, who has been linked with a move to Anfield, suffered a horror knee injury in his side's La Liga win over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday that will now require surgery.

The 20-year-old has progressed through the Basque club's youth ranks and is now an integral part of their team after starting 26 league games this season.

Martinez was also hotly tipped to be a key figure in Spain's Olympic football team that is due to play in London in the summer, where all the English clubs would have had a chance to check on the centre-back's form.

Liverpool Set For Juventus Player Plus Cash Offer For Suarez

The last thing Liverpool need is more speculation surrounding Luis Suarez but it’s being reported by TMW in Italy that Juventus are interested in the Uruguayan striker and could make a move this summer.

It’s not the first time Suarez has been linked with Juventus, the player has also been rumoured to be interesting PSG, however Suarez himself has made efforts to calm supporters by saying he’s happy at Liverpool.

None of that has stopped this latest news. TMW say Juventus are desperate to strengthen upfront and see Suarez as one of their prime candidates for the position. Beppe Marotta, a club Director, is the one drawing up a list of targets and Suarez is on it.

The Italian club would offer Milos Krasic as part exchange and hope they can work out a deal acceptable to both Liverpool and Suarez. Krasic was a big money signing from CSKA Moscow but the move hasn’t worked out and the club has been trying to sell him for a while.

Luiz Suarez Lined Up By Roma

Roma are considering a £20million bid for unsettled Liverpool striker Luiz Suarez after abandoning hope of signing Chelsea's Fernando Torres, according to reports from Italy.

Suarez is believed to represent a more realistic target for the capital side due to uncertainty over Liverpool's current direction and the fallout from the Patrice Evra race row.

Now Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport claim the Serie A side would hope to complete a deal for just over £20m, and could probably match his current wages because of the reduced tax rate in the country.

The club's sporting director Walter Sabatini has said he wants to land 'an important player', which they are 'close to signing', and Suarez would fill that requirement.

Roma would face stiff competition for the Uruguayan, with Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain also thought to be interested in securing his signature.

But the Italian side could have an advantage in negotiations to sign the 25-year-old, as their president Thomas Di Benedetto owns a minority stake in the company that owns Liverpool, Fenway Sports Group.

Coates Wants More Action

Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates is keen to adapt more to life in the Premier League and secure further first-team football for Kenny Dalglish's side.

The Uruguay international made the move to Anfield from Nacional in his homeland in the summer and has had to be patient on his debut season in England.

He made his debut when thrust into the fray from the bench against Tottenham at White Hart Lane as the nine-men Reds were on the wrong end of a 4-0 humbling in September.

The 21-year-old's first start came against Stoke in January and he was again in the first XI for the recent 3-2 defeat at QPR, where his wonder-goal looked to have set Kenny Dalglish's men on their way to victory before their late capitulation.

Coates admits he is learning all the time from fellow central defenders Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger as he continues to come to terms with the hustle and bustle of top-flight English football.

"I think it's gone well so far," he told the club's official website.

"Obviously I would like some more opportunities to play, but I am also conscious of the fact I have to be patient and wait for those opportunities to come my way.

"I've learned a lot from Jamie, Martin and Daniel. They are different players with different characteristics, but I have picked things up from all of them and I will continue to try and do that.

"I've enjoyed playing at Anfield. Everybody told me what it would be like to play there, and it's been very special.

"The goal for the team is to win as many matches as we can. My personal goal is to try and adapt even more to the (English) game so next season I can play more.

"The football is quicker here than in Uruguay, and it's stronger and more aggressive. That's something I'm going to have to keep working towards and adapting my game to."