Murphy: Dalglish is NOT the answer for Kop

Kenny Dalglish is yesterday’s man and Liverpool fans should show patience with Roy Hodgson and reap the long-term rewards.

That’s the view of Danny Murphy, the former Liverpool midfielder and a lifelong Anfield fan.

Kop fans called for Dalglish’s return last Sunday as Liverpool’s horrific start to the campaign continued with a 2-1 home defeat to Blackpool which leaves them third from bottom of the Premier League.

But Murphy, who played for Hodgson at Fulham, is adamant.

He said: “My view hasn’t changed. Liverpool should keep faith with Roy because they will benefit in the long-term.

“Of course it’s inevitable people want to revert to Kenny - it’s King Kenny, isn’t it?

“I grew up loving the man and everyone loves Kenny. He’s a great guy and he has been a top manager, but he has been out of the game a very long time and football has radically changed.

“I worked with Roy for a long time. I know it’s not really comparable in many ways - Liverpool and Fulham - because the pressure’s completely different.

“But when he came to Fulham, we didn’t win for six games. Now I’m not suggesting that’s the way to start but the way he wants his team to play and the type of tactics and discipline he wants his team to have don’t happen overnight. It’s as simple as that.

“So if you throw into that a squad of players which isn’t what it was three or four years ago, the loss of Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso before he came, players of that calibre haven’t really been replaced by players of that quality.

“Also taking into consideration the main striker Fernando Torres has not been fully fit and has not performed to his best it has been a very difficult start.

“I accept some of the results have not been acceptable but all I’m saying is the situation is not dire.”

Murphy went on: “The league table is separated by three to five points from third from bottom to fourth, so there’s a long way to go.

“Supporters should stay patient, the team has quality in it and the simple fact is if you panic now and, God forbid, got rid of Roy and brought someone else in, the problems are still there.

“Besides he’s not that type of man to walk away. He’s a fighter and he believes in what he does and his track record suggests what he does is right.

“Let’s put things into perspective It’s only a minority of the fans calling for Roy’s head - it’s not all of them - and there’s a discontent issue there with the ownership problems anyway.

“Liverpool being such a huge and wonderful club, the spotlight is always on them and when it doesn’t go well it’s going to be exaggerated to a degree.

“I’m not saying there aren’t problems but a win at Everton at the weekend and all of a sudden they’re mid-table, they’ve just beaten Everton and everyone’s a bit happier.

“I spoke to Roy recently and he knows it’s a big task but it was always going to be for whoever took that job over.

“The bad times at Liverpool have not just come, they’ve been trophyless for a couple of years now.

“The squad has diminished in the last couple years under Rafa as well. It’s not just that Roy has come in and all of a sudden they’ve gone bad.

“My overwhelming feeling is, yes, it’s disappointing and Liverpool should be doing better, but don’t panic. I know Roy, I know his desire to succeed, I know the characters they still have in that team and I know they’ll be okay.”