Reality has bitten for Kopites... Dalglish magic alone won't win back the title

By David Anderson

Published 12:10 09/11/11

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When Kenny Dalglish succeeded Roy Hodgson as Liverpool boss, some Kopites spoke giddily about him leading the Reds to the title.

But 11 months on and they are realising that it will take more than The King's return to make them great again.

Liverpool's spluttering form at Anfield have served as a wake-up call to Liverpool fans who hoped success was just around the corner.

Not only did Liverpool pass up a glorious opportunity to beat Manchester United at Anfield on a day when Fergie completely got his team wrong, they went on to drop four points against Norwich and Swansea.

"We ran about like headless chickens," was Daniel Agger's damning assessment of Liverpool's futile attempts to score against the Swans and those words cut to the very bone for Kopites.

They shattered any remaining rose-tinted glasses nostalgia about Kenny's return for Liverpool fans and instead they all realise these remain tough times.

The two Manchesters are well out of reach, while Tottenham and Arsenal have recovered from their early struggles to close in on Chelsea and show that this season's fight for a top-four place will be the most cut-throat ever.

But it would be wrong as one caller to BBC Five Live's 606 on Saturday asserted that Liverpool are no better off now than they were 12 months ago under Hodgson.

Then they were struggling to get away from the relegation zone, whereas at least now they are fighting at the right end of the table.

Liverpool are improving - if slowly - and Dalglish is clearly building for the future with his summer signings.

Jordan Henderson has come under fire from some fans, but he is still young and inexperienced, as is Sebastian Coates.

The time to judge Henderson will be in a year or two, not now when he's only five months into his Anfield career.

Andy Carroll remains the biggest frustration for Kopites and despite them willing him to succeed, he continues to deliver in fits and spurts.

He is in danger of becoming another Duncan Ferguson, who became a cult hero at Everton because of the odd moment of brilliance rather than a sustained period of success.

Each time he looks like he is ready to catch fire, he stalls again and his confidence is hit with every glaring miss.

Thankfully Liverpool have Luis Suarez and the little Uruguayan is an early contender for the Footballer of the Year with his great form.

God knows where they would be without his goals and assists this season.

Liverpool are getting better, but it is going to be a long, hard road back for them.

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