Liverpool FC boss Kenny Dalglish: LFC can carry on buying without having to sell


KENNY DALGLISH has revealed he is under no pressure to sell players – and that Liverpool’s owners are instead urging him to continue his summer spending.

Bankrolled by Fenway Sports Group, the Anfield outfit have spent more than £50million to strengthen their squad during the transfer window.

In front of the biggest home attendance in more than 25 years, the new-look Liverpool, featuring four debutants, began the Premier League season in stuttering fashion on Saturday when they were held to a 1-1 home draw by Sunderland.

Such is the bulging squad now at Dalglish’s disposal, the Anfield manager could have named an entire starting XI of senior professionals who weren’t even in the 18-man party.

But the Scot has suggested principal owner John Henry, who was in attendance at the weekend, is encouraging more signings before transfer deadline at the end of the month.

“I’m not under pressure to sell,” said Dalglish. “We are under more pressure to get somebody in. The owners have been fantastic and there is no pressure in any way, shape or form.”

Liverpool nevertheless are hoping to move on a number of fringe players in the coming weeks, although Dalglish was adamant his team’s tired second-half performance was a consequence of putting too many players in the shop window during pre-season games at the expense of regular first-teamers.

“We had to be fair to everybody we have on the books and we gave them all a reasonable opportunity to get themselves fit and to prove they were worthy of a game,” said the manager.

“I don’t see any reason why that is not the correct way to go about things.”

Former Sunderland man Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam and Jose Enrique were all handed debuts at the weekend, the latter barely 24 hours following his arrival from Newcastle United after Fabio Aurelio suffered an Achilles injury in training on Friday.

And Dalglish said: “It will take time to get to know each other but the most important factor is they got through the game.

“Two of the players have just come back from the Copa America. It’s a big ask.

“But we knew what we were doing when we picked the side.

“How long will it take to gel? It might be next week, I don’t know. There is no timescale, that’s a certainty. Whatever time they need, they will have.”