Match Report: Liverpool 1 - 1 Wigan

Liverpool's ambitions of staging a late charge for Champions League qualification suffered an untimely blow as bogey side Wigan ended their four-match winning run in a draw at Anfield.

A fifth successive victory would have put the Reds within four points of fourth-placed Chelsea but despite dominating two-thirds of the game they failed to press home their advantage.

Raul Meireles impressed once again, extending his remarkable goalscoring spree to five in his last six matches, but at the other end Jose Reina's goal was breached for the first time in 463 minutes when Steve Gohouri prodded home from close range.

However, another positive note for Reds boss Kenny Dalglish was January signing Luis Suarez, on his first start since joining from Ajax.

He showed why the Merseysiders parted with £22.8million with a display full of energy, invention and determination.

Had the Uruguay international enjoyed more fortune his side would have won the game, having had a shot to make it 2-0 rebound off a post before the interval and a second-half free-kick cannon back off the crossbar.

Wigan, to give them credit, enjoyed a good spell after the interval which culminated in their goal and ensured Liverpool's record against them now stands at just two victories in their last seven meetings.

Suarez was into the action early, having a fourth-minute shout for a penalty turned down after a quick counter-attack from a corner and combining well down the right with Dirk Kuyt, who himself had a shot from the edge of the penalty area which had Ali Al Habsi grasping to hang on at the second attempt.

But the Wigan goalkeeper could do nothing about Liverpool's opener in the 24th minute as Meireles continued his scoring run.

Fabio Aurelio's cross from the left byline was partially deflected by the head of Gohouri but only as far as the Portugal international 16 yards out and he smashed home a right-foot volley.

Three minutes later Suarez almost doubled the lead with a manoeuvre reminiscent of the now-departed Fernando Torres.

He wriggled his way into the left edge of the penalty area before opening his body to shoot right-footed past Al Habsi only to see the ball rebound off the far post.

The Uruguayan was a willing outlet for Liverpool and Gohouri was booked on the half-hour for clattering into the back of him.

Wigan were in danger of being overwhelmed as Meireles continued to find space in and around their penalty area, blazing over from range on one occasion.

The closest the Latics came to producing a response was when winger Charles N'Zogbia fired in a low free-kick which Reina claimed easily late in the first half.

Meireles was replaced by David Ngog four minutes into the second half, with the Portugal midfielder heading straight down the tunnel to receive treatment.

But Suarez showed no signs of fading in only his second match since December 8 and Antolin Alcaraz had to resort to a foul to prevent him racing into the penalty area, for which he was booked.

But Liverpool's inability to seize complete control of the game and score a second gave the visitors hope and the threat of an equaliser turned into a reality in the 65th minute.

N'Zogbia curled an inswinging left-footed cross from the right which found its way to Gohouri who stabbed home from two yards out at the far post.

There was a suspicion of offside but it was only relevant if Alcaraz had got the slightest of touches on the way through and it was impossible to tell.

That was the first goal Reina had conceded in five matches and it threatened to undermine all Liverpool's previous hard work in putting together a run of four successive victories.

Suarez continued to impress and when Caldwell fouled him on the edge of the area in the 77th minute he picked himself up to curl a shot over the wall but onto the crossbar.

The Uruguayan, seemingly almost single-handedly at times, tried desperately to find the winner but found Latics captain Caldwell in particularly resolute form.

Aurelio fired a shot just over, which was followed by Martin Skrtel's header in added time as the hosts failed to find a way through.

The result put a check, for now, on lofty ambitions to break back into the top four but despite dropping points Dalglish will still harbour hopes they can still pose a challenge later in the season.

Unfortunately for Wigan, they remain in the bottom three.

Kenny Dalglish: We Lacked Sharpness

Liverpool took the lead through Raul Meireles but allowed Wigan Athletic to get back into the game after Steve Gohouri’s effort leveled the scores shortly after the hour mark, resulting in a 1-1 draw for the Anfield men.

Coach Kenny Dalglish was happy with his side's performance but insists that after the international duties of midweek his players lacked the edge to win the game.

“I think it was a game where we started well enough, we scored a good goal by Raul [Meireles] then Luis [Suarez] hit the post but you could tell that a lot of them had been playing on Wednesday night,” he told reporters.

“It’s the same if you get a game yourself on a Wednesday night, there’s just that bit of an edge missing.

“I think if the edge had been on the final pass would have been better and on three or four occasions we would have been in, but the sharpness was away a wee bit, which is understandable.

"But saying that we are obviously disappointed not to have taken three points and with a bit of luck we would’ve got them.”

Luis Suarez made his first start in a Liverpool shirt with the 24-year-old hitting the woodwork twice.

Dalglish was frustrated by the impact the international fixtures had on team selection, with Daniel Agger not fit to make the squad while Meireles came off as a second half substitute after picking up an illness on international duty.

The Liverpool boss admits it is a big blow to lose the Portuguese player, who has now scored in his last five Liverpool appearances.

“It hasn’t come from the cooking at Melwood, that’s for sure. It could just be a bug that’s going around. It was just sickness," he said.

“During the first half he wasn’t feeling to clever and he tried to play on but it wasn’t fair to ask him to.”

“Whether it’s a result of the game in midweek for Portugal and he’s just over-exerted himself or it’s a virus-- I don’t know what the cause of it is but he was certainly sick at half time.

"He’s a goalscoring threat for us so it was a blow to lose him.”

Dalglish Unsure If Gerrard Will Return In Europe

Kenny Dalglish has admitted he does not know if Steven Gerrard and Daniel Agger will be fit for Liverpool's Europa League trip to Sparta Prague.

Both players missed the Reds' 1-1 draw at home to Wigan on Saturday due to injury and, with only one game in the next 11 days, Dalglish confessed he will wait to take a decision on the duo for the trip to Prague.

"Both Daniel and Steven will be days rather than weeks,'' said the Scot. "Obviously we've got the Europa League on Thursday, whether they are fit for that, we'll just have to wait and see. We've not got a game after that until the following Thursday so we'll see how they are and go from there.''

Dalglish said he felt his side's lack of spark against Wigan was partly down to the effect of the midweek internationals. He also bemoaned the Latics' equalizer, which was offside in the eyes of the Liverpool boss.

"I think it was a game where we started well enough, pushed forward and scored a good goal by Raul [Meireles] again,'' he said. "Luis [Suarez] hit the post but you could tell they had been playing Wednesday night a lot of them. There was just that little bit of an edge missing and if they had had that they the final pass would have been better. I think there were three or four occasions in the first half we would have been in, but the sharpness was just missing a bit, which is understandable.

"Obviously we are disappointed not to take the three points and with a bit of luck maybe we would have, despite the performance not being as good as it has been in the past. I think Wigan may have been a bit aggrieved if they had gone away without a point but Luis hit the post twice and their goal was offside - these things happen. We just have to brush ourselves down and get on with it. It's not been too damaging. We'll keep going.''

Suarez, a £22.8 million signing from Ajax late last month, enjoyed an impressive first start - having scored on his debut 10 days ago as a substitute.

Dalglish said of his new recruit: "It's not difficult to warm to him is it? He's very energetic and skilful. He loves to score goals and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. In normal circumstances maybe we would have taken him off because he's not had a game for a while. It probably pushed him that bit too far. We were just hoping he might get us a goal.''

Dalglish Delighted With Lucas

Kenny Dalglish has hailed Lucas Leiva for his transformation at Liverpool and says it is no surprise to see him playing the Dunga role for Brazil.

While Lucas, 24, has received the consistent backing of Liverpool managers, he has struggled to win over the fans since signing from Gremio in 2007.

However, his impressive performances over the last year have seen many supporters come around and, after he won his ninth cap for his country in the friendly against France this week, Dalglish feels he fully deserves international recognition.

"It was interesting to see him playing for Brazil on Wednesday," he said. "They have had some fantastic players in his position and the best known was Dunga, who won World Cups and went on to manage the national side.

"I've always said Lucas is highly thought of in Brazil, probably more than in Britain, but certainly not at Liverpool. I don't know why he has started playing so well. Maybe he just needed time to settle. Whatever the reason, we're just grateful for the job that he's doing.

"We have always appreciated what he can do. Last Sunday he was as good as anyone on the pitch at Chelsea, so to see him playing for Brazil wasn't really a surprise for me."

He added: "I don't think Lucas is going to be the one who beats five or six players and puts it into the back of the net, but he may be the one who stops the guy going past the first fella then sets us on our way.

"He's an important member of the team. Most teams have someone like that in the ranks and we are no different. The fact he started on Wednesday for Brazil tells you they must be very pleased with him as well, and the performances he's put in for us mean he's deserved it."

Meireles Happy With Form

Raul Meireles has expressed his delight with recent performances after emerging as Liverpool's man of the moment as they target a top-six finish.

The Portugal international scored the winner against Chelsea last week to take his tally to four goals in five games.

Meireles was former manager Roy Hodgson's most lavish signing at £11.5million from Porto.

Yet, it is under caretaker boss Kenny Dalglish that he is producing the sort of form that is endearing him to the Kop as they have moved up to sixth.

Meireles said: "The fans have been with me from my arrival, but now my goals mean their support for me is bigger.

"I am a hard man but I get very emotional when they sing my name during matches.

"This is unique but I must say that while I am happy with my goals, my objective is not to become Liverpool top scorer.

"I know my limitations but I will always give 150%.

"As a foreigner watching Liverpool on television, I always sensed something about the club but it's only possible to really understand it when you are here.

"To perform at Anfield and score goals is fantastic.

"I am privileged to play for Liverpool and perhaps in time I will think that I have fulfilled the biggest dream of my sporting life."

£25m Price Tag On Liverpool Defender Target

Liverpool defender target Fábio Coentrão has had a £25 million price tag placed on his head.

The Portuguese international has been heavily linked with a move away from Benfica, with Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish thought to be one of the managers interested in bringing the player to England.

Coentrão himself has previously expressed a desire to ply his trade at Anfield, expressing his admiration for the Merseysiders last month when they were linked with a move.

"I love Liverpool," the full back was re-quoted as saying on Live4Liverpool.

Manchester United are also thought to be keen on the player, with Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly monitoring the 22-year-old for several season now as his stock rises at the Portuguese Liga champions.

TalkSPORT claim Coentrão and his representatives have agreed a fee that will be accepted by Benfica should a club come in for the player, and it's reported that £25 million will be enough to take the player from the Estádio da Luz.

Liverpool were reportedly considering the player as a replacement for Paul Konchesky during the transfer window, but failed to bring the player to Anfield as Konchesky left for Nottingham Forest on loan.

Glen Johnson is currently filling in at the position for Liverpool, and doing an impressive job for Dalglish too. However, it's seen as a short-term fix and the club is expected to move for reinforcements at the end of the season.

New owners NESV have already shown that they are willing to invest in the club, and the manager has hinted that they will do so again in the summer. Coentrão is thought to be one of the targets, and Liverpool will have to spend big to fend off competition and secure the signing.

Liverpool Star On The Way To Newcastle

Joe Cole may be prepared to leave Liverpool at the end of the season to join Newcastle in search of regular football ahead of Euro 2012.

The former Chelsea and West Ham man has had an extremely disappointing and frustrating first six months at Anfield which have included a sending off on his league debut at home to Arsenal, a persistent knee injury, a missed penalty from his only attempt and a loss of form.

Furthermore, the change from a 4-4-1-1- formation under Roy Hodgson to a 5-3-2 or a 4-4-2 under Kenny Dalglish is likely to further limit his chances of first team football.

Under Hodgson, Cole was employed as a second striker but with Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez expected to play upfront together when the former returns to fitness and Steven Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt and the in-form Raul Meireles all seemingly liked by Dalglish, there appears to be no place for Liverpool's number 10.

The Liverpool hierarchy won't like the idea of such a high-earner not being a regular starter and may be willing to sell him for £5 million, roughly what they would have paid him in wages over the course of a season after he arrived on a free transfer from Chelsea during the summer.

Newcastle in the meanwhile would be happy to spend some of the money from the Andy Carroll deal on a player who offers something different to what they've already got in their squad; a goalscoring midfielder with flair.

The promise of an almost guaranteed place in the starting eleven may be too much for Cole to resist; he will be desperate to be playing regular football in a bid to ensure he's in Fabio Capello's squad for Euro 2012.

Danny Wilson: I Had No Interest In Making Stupid Loan Move To Celtic

Danny Wilson insists he would have been STUPID to join Celtic on loan last month.

The former Rangers kid, who moved to Liverpool for £2million in the summer, was wanted by Hoops manager Neil Lennon when he faced a defensive crisis.

Celtic spoke to the Reds about taking Wilson on loan but the bid was rejected by gaffer Kenny Dalglish, who was instrumental in taking the 19-year-old to Merseyside.

Now the defender has spoken for the first time about why moving to Celtic was NEVER an option.

He said: "My reaction when I heard Celtic had asked about a loan was like everyone else's. It's just stupid, isn't it?

"After being associated with Rangers for so long - I was there from age nine - it was never on the cards.

"I have no interest in going to Celtic. Would I have gone to another club on loan? Maybe.

"But after speaking to the manager he doesn't really want me to go anywhere. That was good to hear."

Wilson is enjoying life under legend Dalglish, who replaced Roy Hodgson in January. He's now determined to show he's worthy of a place in the starting line-up after playing just three times for the top team this term.

He said: "Kenny is a huge figure at Liverpool. He got instant respect as soon as he walked in the door.

"He's happy with how I've been performing in training. If an opportunity arises he won't hesitate to put me in."

Wilson won his second Scotland cap in midweek against Northern Ireland. And Craig Levein has admitted he expects Wilson and teenage Blackburn star Grant Hanley to be his future defensive pairing.

That's music to Wilson's ears as he played alongside Hanley at Murray Park.

He said: "It gave me great encouragement to hear Craig say that about us.

"I played with Grant when we were nine at Rangers. We were defenders even as kids."

Anfield No.2 Steve Clarke is pleased to see Wilson getting a chance with Scotland and believes it will help his Liverpool career.

Clarke said: "It's a fantastic honour to get picked by your country. That's Danny's reward for all his hard work."

Andy Carroll Hits The Ground Running At Liverpool

Andy Carroll gave the thumbs-up to Liverpool fans after training properly for the first time since his £35million switch.

The giant striker, who joined from Newcastle on deadline day in a breathtaking deal, stepped out at Melwood to be put through his paces.

And he signalled his happiness to watching youngsters, who peered over the fences to snatch a glimpse at their new No 9 after the record-breaking departure of Fernando Torres to Chelsea for £50m.

Since Carroll arrived at Anfield, he has been stunned by how hard he is being made to work in trying to recover from a thigh injury that is expected to leave him on the sidelines for another two to three weeks.

It starts with sessions at the sports science department on the adverse affects alcohol can have on an athlete; the fact it makes players more prone to injury and can hamper performance, even when consumed days before a game.

They will also put Carroll on an intensive weights program in the belief that, come the start of next season, he will be an even more formidable forward and even more of an athlete.

Liverpool caretaker manager Kenny Dalglish said: 'Andy has been thoroughly checked over, he is progressing well and I think the people who made the assertion (that he is out for the season) have got a good chance of being wrong.'

Match Preview: Liverpool vs Wigan

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish will make a late decision on Steven Gerrard's availability for the visit of Wigan after the captain missed England's midweek friendly victory with a groin problem.

Centre-back Martin Skrtel is a doubt with a thigh problem which prevented him playing for Slovakia in midweek while Jonjo Shelvey has been ruled out for three months with a knee injury.

Defender Martin Kelly, who was withdrawn from the England Under-21 squad with an ankle injury, is expected to be fit but Joe Cole (knee) will probably be on the sidelines again.

Dalglish insists midfielder Raul Meireles' impressive goalscoring form of late is entirely down to the player's talent and his adaptation to English football.

The Reds boss said he was no "tactical wizard" and the Portugal midfielder's four goals in his last five matches were all a result of the 27-year-old's hard work.

Meireles had not found the target in his first 21 matches after joining from Porto in the summer for £11.5million but has suddenly burst into life in front of goal.

He has been deployed in an advanced midfield role, occasionally alongside Gerrard and sometimes on his own, and has been a revelation in the last month.

"Raul has always had the ability he has shown recently," said Dalglish.

"Maybe he's settled down a little bit and is more comfortable and confident because he is playing well but there's been nothing drastic (tactically) for any of the players really.

"It is fantastic to see Raul doing so well. He has always been a talented footballer, he's always had what we are seeing now but it's been trying to get it out and it is coming out now and he's scoring goals."

Former Reds striker Fernando Torres drew a blank on his Chelsea debut on Sunday and admitted Liverpool's formation had taken them by surprise.

Dalglish, though, played down the tactics involved.

"The system change was beneficial to us. It is about the club, about the team, and we are the most important people in our eyes," he added.

"I am not here to try to impress everyone by saying I'm a tactical wizard, I'm just here to get the best from our boys.

"It is part of our responsibility to work out how to do that and we won't do anything to confuse anyone."

Wigan defender Gary Caldwell could play with a mask to protect a fractured cheekbone.

Caldwell missed the victory over Blackburn at the weekend because of the injury but was given permission to train with the Scotland squad this week.

James McCarthy is likely to be available after he was withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad as manager Roberto Martinez wanted him to rest his previously injured ankle.

Liverpool Beat Chelsea To Out-Of-Contract French Winger

The Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti was rumoured to be lining up the Rennes winger Sylvain Marveaux to replace Florent Malouda next season, as his contract with the Ligue 1 club runs out in June, but it has been revealed today that Marveaux has instead agreed a pre-contract with Liverpool.

The 24 year-old is currently injured, but his great record of 10 goals from the wing for Rennes last season had persuaded many teams to compete for Marveaux when he became available for a Bosman.

Marveaux was seen at Anfield in December for discussions, and it is being reported that Damien Comolli has now concluded the talks successfully and Marveaux will join Liverpool officially on July 1st this year.

Marveaux has had a troubling groin injury this season, and is scheduled to undergo an operation to fix it next week, so his next game is now certain to be for Liverpool next season.

Rennes general manager Peter Dreossi announced yesterday: “We will never see Sylvain Marveaux in the jersey of Stade Rennais again,”

“He has hardly played this season… Other players have taken his place and showed they are ready – Yacine Brahimi and Abdul Camara, for example.”

If Marveaux recovers well from his surgery he could have many good years ahead of him at Anfield.

Liverpool Track Ajax Academy Wing Wizard

Up and coming Dutch star Lorenzo Ebecilio is a summer transfer target for two top Barclays Premier League clubs reports the Daily Mail.

The 19-year-old winger, who is a product of the famous Ajax academy set-up has made five appearances for the first team this season and was recently capped for Holland U21s.

The highly rated youngster has come to prominence after overcoming a career threatening heart defect that plagued him in his early days but he is now drawing plaudits from all over Europe after a string of fine cameo performances.

Ebecilio has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool in the Dutch press, but talkSPORT now reports that Chelsea have come to the forefront of negotiations, though it is unclear exactly how much money they have laid down to bring the player to Stamford Bridge.

Blues owner Roman Abramovich has made a renewed financial commitment to the cause after Chelsea blew £75million in the January transfer window on the signings of Fernando Torres and David Luiz, with a view to strengthening their assault on the Barclays Premier League title.

And Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti has earmarked Ebecilio as an additional recruit to strengthen his Stamford Bridge side further ahead of a rumoured summer clear out that could see a number of high profile stars leaving the club as Chelsea look to freshen up an ageing squad.

Liverpool could still attempt to persuade the player that Anfield would be a better destination after director of football strategy Damien Comolli took notice of the player himself while in Amsterdam negotiating the deal to bring Luis Suarez to Liverpool last month.

With new Liverpool owners NESV also keen to strengthen their squad with the finest young talent Europe has to offer, Ebecilio is definitely the sort of player that fits the bill as manager Kenny Dalglish looks to make his mark on the transfer market again this summer.

Liverpool To Move For Real Madrid Star In Summer

Liverpool just missed out on making a late deadline move for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.

The Merseyside club has been strongly linked with a move for the French international who has failed to show his best form at the Bernabeu.

Reports in Spain suggest that Liverpool were determined to sign Benzema after Fernando Torres said he wanted to join Chelsea.

But the two club clubs did not have enough time to agree a move for the prolific forward.

Despite Liverpool making moves to sign Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll, the Reds are still expected to make a fresh move for Benzema at the end of the season as they look to assemble one of the best forward lines in Europe.

Liverpool & Manchester United To Lock Horns Over Taye Taiwo

Manchester United and Liverpool are both interested in Marseille defender Taye Taiwo, according to the Daily Mail.

The Nigerian is out of contract in the summer and has already stated his intention to leave France, which has led to increasing speculation that he will move to the Barclays Premier League.

Taiwo is hardly short on confidence - believing he has what it takes to play for one of England's top clubs - something he may have a chance to prove should Liverpool or United step up their reported interest.

“If I was to depart, then I would not join a small club. It will be Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal,” Taiwo told France-Football last year.

“I am not scared by the level in England. I believe I have the right level to defend against [Wayne] Rooney."

The 25-year-old is also being courted by Manchester City, Tottenham, Juventus and Real Madrid as he looks to secure five-year deal worth around £3.5 million a year.

The Daily Mail claims Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson watched the full-back in action against Monaco last month, while other sources allege Liverpool have sent representatives to monitor him previously.

Taiwo, a powerful full-back, would be an ideal acquisition for Liverpool who is currently lacking depth at left-back after the departure of Paul Konchesky from Anfield.

Glen Johnson has recently been switched from his preferred position of right-back and - while Johnson has been competent in the recent revival under Kenny Dalglish - Liverpool are understood to be keen to bring a recognized left-sided player to fill the role.

Newcastle United Plan £5m Swoop For Liverpool Playmaker

Alan Pardew is planning a shock swoop to sign Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole this summer. The Newcastle United boss is looking to bring in significant additions to his St James’ Park squad using the money the club made from the sale of Andy Carroll to the Anfield side and has earmarked a move for the former West Ham and Chelsea man.

Joe Cole has not had a good start to his time on Merseyside, sent off in his first match at home to Arsenal and seemingly not able to break into the first team picture on a regular basis during the short Roy Hodgson reign. The England international currently has problems with a persistent knee injury and was the subject of interest from his former Upton Park club during the January transfer window but no move was forthcoming.

Newcastle United boss Pardew is looking to add more creativity to his Magpies squad and having secured French winger Hatem Ben Arfa on a permanent deal is now looking to bring in more flair players to help provide the ammunition for this strike force, another area the former West Ham and Reading boss is looking to improve.

There has been some speculation that Liverpool may accept offers of as little as £5m for a player who arrived on a free in the summer as they look to remove his large salary from the club’s wage bill. Newcastle United may find it tough though to convince new assistant boss Steve Clarke to allow such a deal as the former Chelsea man is said to have high hopes that 29 year old Cole can still go some way to recapturing his former glory.

Gerrard 'Heartbroken' By Torres Move

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has revealed he was left "heartbroken'' by Fernando Torres' decision to quit the club for Chelsea, but believes the Reds are finally on an upward curve.

England midfielder Gerrard has led the Anfield club through a long period of drama both on and off the field, but he now believes under the ownership of John W Henry and Tom Werner, and the caretaker management of Kenny Dalglish, that good times are not too far away from returning. That did not stop him mourning the departure of Torres, though.

"I was heartbroken. Absolutely gutted. But I also called him after he left,'' Gerrard told the Daily Mail. "There are no hard feelings. I built up a relationship with Fernando and became his friend. He scored some fantastic goals and I have fantastic memories. I enjoyed playing with him. So you can't go from one extreme to another and fall out with him, start criticizing him. But he will also understand how I feel. Fernando is a bright person and he will understand that the Liverpool fans are upset as well.''

Liverpool continue life without Torres on Saturday when they meet Wigan, and the decision whether to play Gerrard, who is recovering from a groin injury that kept him out of England's friendly with Denmark in midweek, will be left until the last moment.

Torres' Chelsea debut was a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, the latest in a string of impressive results they have put together since Dalglish returned to the club to replace Roy Hodgson last month. And added to the signings of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll - the £60million replacements for Carroll - Gerrard can finally see happier times returning to his club.

He said: "The football club is much happier now. It's in a better place than it has been for a few years. We've got new owners, who I've spoken to quite a lot, who are passionate about what they want to do.

"I trust them, I trust them even more after what's happened in the last week or so. And the way they've acted, coming towards the end of the transfer window, has impressed me. I was a bit wary at first because I was maybe a bit guilty of trusting the previous owners too much.

"This time I've taken a bit more time in judging them. But they've been brilliant so far. They have put the club back in a good place already and the last three or four weeks have been really positive. We've had some good results. The lads are smiling again. I've actually enjoyed going to work again.''

Kenny Dalglish Praises Raul Meireles

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has heaped praise on midfielder Raul Meireles after a string of fantastic performances and strikes, including a winning goal at Chelsea.

However, the Scotsman has been quick to insist that the Portuguese international's goalscoring form has been down to the player's hard work and ability as he has adapted himself to the English league and not due to any tactical wizardry on his part.

Club legend Dalglish told reporters: "Raul has always had the ability he has shown recently.

"Maybe he's settled down a little bit and is more comfortable and confident because he is playing well but there's been nothing drastic [tactically] for any of the players really.

"It is fantastic to see Raul doing so well. He has always been a talented footballer, he's always had what we are seeing now but it's been trying to get it out and it is coming out now and he's scoring goals."

Meireles has found himself playing in an advanced midfield role of late, often alongside club captain Steven Gerrard or in a solo role feeding the ball to the strikers up top, and is thriving after being picked out of position – often on the right flank – by previous manager Roy Hodgson.

Since Dalglish's return, Liverpool has shown flexibility in formation and tactics, with victories against Stoke and Chelsea featuring three at the back and a host of different midfield setups.

But the Scot has admitted that he is no tactical genius, and the changes in shape introduced by him and new coach Steve Clarke have been purely to get the best out of the existing personnel.

He added: "The system change was beneficial to us. It is about the club, about the team, and we are the most important people in our eyes.

"I am not here to try to impress everyone by saying I'm a tactical wizard, I'm just here to get the best from our boys.

"It is part of our responsibility to work out how to do that and we won't do anything to confuse anyone."

Liverpool currently lie in a season's best of sixth place and are six points behind fourth placed Chelsea, but Dalglish is reluctant to spark any false hope amongst the Anfield camp that the team will sneak into a Champion's League place.

The former Celtic player continued: "It wasn't a realistic proposition last season so it is only this season we can worry about."

"We've won four games, so that's moving in the right direction and that's what we want to do.

"We've had four results, four shut-outs, but that doesn't earn us anything for the game against Wigan.

"We've got to build on what we've done, but that doesn't mean to say that because we've done it [improved form] we're finished - we want to continue to do what we've been doing.

"It's much more enjoyable to be winning matches than losing them, so that's the thing that will be at the forefront of my mind.

"It's more enjoyable for everyone if we get a result."

Kenny Dalglish Insists Pepe Reina Is Going Nowhere

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has moved to quash reports that Pepe Reina is set for the exit door this summer, with Old Trafford a rumoured destination.

Reina, who signed a new six-year deal last season, which reportedly has a £20 million escape clause, has long been admired by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and has been touted as a potential replacement for the retiring Edwin van der Sar.

Dalglish, however, has insisted that the Spaniard will remain at Anfield for the long term, and that the return of Champions League football to Merseyside is his priority as manager.

Speaking to reporters, Dalglish said: “We have a fantastic goalkeeper and he will be here for a long, long time.

“The Champions League is what everyone here wants to get to. For us it’s only been a year where we’ve not had it and that’s what we want to get back.

“It should be the same for every player, we should all be aiming for that.”

Liverpool Keep Tabs On Athletic Bilbao Defender Aymeric Laporte

Liverpool are reportedly pursuing Athletic Bilbao teenager Aymeric Laporte.

According to footmercato.net, Paris-Saint Germain are also considering a move for the highly-rated defender, who has been drafted into the Bilbao first team squad aged just 16.

Such is his potential, Los Leones have written a buyout clause of £15 million - according to tribalfootball.com - into the contract of the French youngster in an attempt to ward off any suitors.

With plenty of room to improve and develop, Laporte would fit with the ethos of Liverpool owners New England Sports Ventures (NESV) in their quest to bring the cream of young European talent to Merseyside.

Liverpool appear to be trawling continental academies in pursuit of future Anfield heroes; with moves for Valencia starlet Paco Alcacer and Maccabi Tel Aviv's Omri Altman also said to be in the pipeline.

NESV have identified the development of young players at their Academy as a priority - tasking Liverpool director of football strategy Damien Comolli with identifying precocious stars.

Comolli is renowned for having an eye for talent in its infancy - something which Liverpool Academy director Frank McParland paid testament to.

"His [Comolli's] philosophy is to bring through young talent and he's since told me that we will be seeing a lot of him here at the Academy," he told the official Liverpool website.

"That can only be good news for us. He has a strong interest in young, elite players and we are already in the process of looking to sign some very talented teenagers.

"He has a great network in Europe and when you combine that with what we already have in place here, it promises to be very exciting times for us."

Liverpool have also been linked with moves for Ipswich wonderkid Connor Wickham and Southampton winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as they look to build a squad to challenge for honours in the future.

Liverpool 'Crazy' Over €25m Playmaker Target

Liverpool is one of the Barclays Premier League clubs being linked with a move for Josip Iličić.

The 23-year-old Slovenian international has been monitored by a number of clubs after a rapid rise to prominence in Italy, with Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish thought to be one of the managers taking a look at the player in January.

“Clubs from England are going crazy for him – Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea all want him,” agent Amir Ruznic said yesterday.

"There is also an interest from Spain, other Italian clubs and Russia. Clubs are ready to pay €15millon for Ilicic but that is not enough. If somebody is ready to pay €20, €25 million, than something could happen."

Iličić has scored eight Serie 'A' goals this season from his attacking midfielder position, but it's his overall ability and performances that have sparked interest from clubs across the continent.

New Liverpool owners NESV have already shown their willing to back the manager at Anfield, spending in excess of £55 million on striker additions in January.

Dalglish has hinted that more signings are to come on Merseyside, with the Liverpool chief keen to strengthen in other areas post-season as he builds for a top four challenge next term.

Competition for the former Maribor man is expected to be fierce though, and the fact that Palermo doesn’t wish to sell the player could also prove to be a major stumbling block.

Liverpool would have to meet the demands set-out by the player's agent if they have a chance of bringing the talented youngster to the club, but with other clubs on the trail the fee could escalate higher for one of the top talents in Europe.

Liverpool Plan Surprise £18m Barcelona Raid

Liverpool are preparing a summer move to sign Barcelona youngster Bojan Krkic. The Anfield side’s Director of Football Damien Comolli has set his sights on the Spanish international who may be on his way out at the Nou Camp as the player’s agent has admitted is unsure of his clients future at the Catalan giants.

The 20 year old has spent the best part of four seasons trying to claim a regular first team berth but appears no nearer to securing that goal than three years ago. Bojan has found himself falling down the pecking order and is now behind fellow youngster Pedro and may well feel that he has to leave the club in order to continue his career progression.

A crowd favourite, the pint sized attacker has scored 38 goals for the La Liga champions but is most often used from the bench and is now the subject of much interest from prospective suitors with the likes of Napoli and Valencia reportedly interested in nabbing the speedy front man.

Liverpool is now also chasing the adaptable attacker who can play either as an out and out striker or out on the wing. The Merseyside club is looking to bring in new youthful additions to help the club plan for the future and Comolli hopes to be able to persuade the Barcelona starlet to move to the Premier League club.

Having brought in Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez to Anfield, Liverpool are continuing to scout out young talent to help boost their squad and the club’s owners are willing to spend in the transfer market to help turn the club into genuine title contenders once again.

The club has invested wisely in bringing in young up and coming players from around Europe, such as Jonjo Shelvey, David N’Gog and Daniel Pacheco and has a fair few quality academy graduates also making an impact with Martin Kelly being the stand out player so far.

Liverpool And Newcastle To Fight For £10m Lille Star This Summer

Liverpool and Newcastle are set for a summer transfer tussle for Lille striker Gervinho, according to reports in France.

The Ivory Coast international was a January transfer target for a long list of clubs across Europe and Ligue Un table-toppers Lille wanted him to stay until the end of the season and fire them to the title.

But the Ivory Coast international is keen to test himself in another country so the club have now agreed to sell him in the summer.

Gervinho has hit 10 goals in 21 games so far this season and Newcastle have identified him as a long-term replacement for Andy Carroll, who joined Liverpool for £35m in January.

But the Reds are ready to disrupt Newcastle's attacking options once again by making an offer of their own for the Lille star.

It is understood that the French club are willing to do business for around £10m.

Agger Hails Dalglish Impact

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger has hailed the impact of Kenny Dalglish and says his side have an outside chance of finishing in the Premier League's top four.

The Reds have been resurgent under club legend Dalglish following the departure of Roy Hodgson and last week secured a 1-0 win at champions Chelsea.

This came following a devastating blow after Fernando Torres left Anfield for the Blues in a deal worth £50million.

Agger, 26, claims Dalglish and new assistant Steve Clarke have instilled belief in the players and the Denmark international is happy with the spirit in the camp.

"I played the last game against Bolton under Roy Hodgson and I think that is where it started and we began to play really well," he said.

"A big part of it is Kenny and Steve Clarke. They have made a major difference.

"But it is also something to do with confidence, because it is the same footballers as before.

"Confidence can win you games and somehow Kenny and Steve have put the confidence back in the players and the belief.

"I think we have shown that definitely in the last four games. It is looking good, although there is still a long way to go."

He added: "What has Dalglish done? He is a positive guy. In football terms, he is positive.

"First of all because he likes to play positive football, going forward, and keeping the ball on the ground and I think he is good among the players.

"The training sessions have been really good and I think everything starts at the training ground.

"If you can get that right you have a big advantage in the games."

Liverpool suffered a poor start under former boss Hodgson but now sit sixth in the table ahead of Saturday's clash with Wigan.

Agger admits it will be a tall order to break into the UEFA Champions League places this term, but says anything is still possible with momentum.

"It is going to be really, really difficult. It is a six point gap and we have played a game more. I don't know if we can get in there," he remarked.

"But, if we can have a good run, and we are on a good run already with four straight wins, and if we can continue playing the same way, with the same confidence, I think we can get close.

"Everybody at Melwood agrees, and it sounds simple and stupid, but we have to take every single game and see where it takes us.

"I know that is the standard answer, but if you start to look ahead and count the games left and how many points you can get, you lose your focus. We do have momentum."

Poulsen Seeks Regular Role

Christian Poulsen claims he has been assured of his future at Liverpool if he impresses Kenny Dalglish in training.

The Dane was strongly linked with a move away from Anfield during the January transfer window less than six months after joining the club.

The summer signing from Juventus has struggled to win over the Reds faithful after being brought in by former boss Roy Hodgson.

Following Hodgson's departure in January it was suggested Poulsen could soon follow him out of Anfield.

Poulsen has revealed he had a chat with Dalglish about his future and the Scot informed him he remained part of his plans.

Staying

"After the new manager came in I had a short meeting with him," revealed Poulsen. "I asked whether I was staying.

"He said he wanted to use all the players and if I performed in training he would use me.

"He has showed he is ready to use all the players, so if I do what he asks, hopefully I will play more often."

Poulsen has been impressed by the impact of Dalglish with the former Reds star leading the side to sixth place after four successive wins in the Premier League.

"I didn't know what to expect," added Poulsen. "It was a fresh start for everybody.

"But the support the manager gets is unbelievable. It is amazing to see how the fans support him and that, in turn, has taken a bit of pressure off the team."

Poulsen insists he can handle the criticism that has been aimed at him as that is part and parcel of playing for a big club.

"Liverpool has such a big history," noted Pouseln.

"They really want to win something and be where they deserve to be - the top of the league.

"At a club like that it is normal that even if you draw a game it feels like a defeat.

"You have to live with the criticism. Hopefully it will be a better time for me but I can live it. It is part of being a professional footballer.

"Liverpool has such a big history and I hope, given some time, they can come back to the top."

Poulsen admits he has huge sympathy for former boss Hodgson after his time in charge at Anfield was cut short.

"Football tends to be black and white," noted Poulsen.

"I still think Roy Hodgson did a good job. He worked really hard to try to make everything right for the club but there were so many things going on.

"There were new owners, new players, a new system. And we made a bad start.

"We needed time. But football is about getting results. We have just won four games on the trot and from that the confidence and performances grow."

Jonjo Shelvey Out For Three Months With Knee Injury

Liverpool's young midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has been ruled out for around three months with a knee injury.

A tendon problem will keep him out of action until May, meaning it is unlikely that the promising youngster will figure again this term.

The England Under 19 international, who was signed from Charlton Athletic last summer, missed the clash with Germany this week due to the problem.

He will begin a lengthy rehabilitation program with the club's medical staff at Melwood.

Shelvey told the club's official website: "I'm a bit down at the moment but I'm just hoping now I can come back stronger.

"I am now going to take a 12-week rehabilitation and hopefully I'll be back soon."