Football Club Buzz

Kenny Dalglish is confident the Anfield faithful will still generate an intimidating atmosphere in Thursday’s Europa League clash with Sparta Prague – despite the unusual kick-off time.

The second leg of the last 32 tie with the Czech side is scheduled to get underway at 6pm, rather than the standard 8.05pm for matches in front of the Kop in the competition.

Nonetheless, Dalglish is in no doubt the kick-off time will count for little by the time the game gets started.

The boss told his pre-match press conference: “Anfield has had some memorable evenings. European nights are always special for many clubs, but certainly for this club.

“Tomorrow night is obviously an earlier kick-off than what we’re used to and it will take a bit of adjustment from the players and the fans also, but I’m sure that won’t deter them from giving us their full support.

“We’ve got to get them on side early doors. The responsibility is on us to go and win the game, but fortunately for us that’s nothing new – the responsibility has been on us many times to go and win games.

“They’ve (the players) gone past that, done it and been successful, so we just need to carry that trend and fashion on for the football club.”

Liverpool ground out a goalless draw in last week’s first-leg meeting in Prague.

Victory over Sparta will set up a last 16 clash with either SC Braga or Lech Poznan – but Dalglish was typically refusing to be drawn on anything other than Thursday’s contest.

Asked by reporters about how he’d feel to lead the Reds all the way to the Dublin final, he replied: “We’ve got to win the game tomorrow night first. We don’t need to run too fast. As we’ve always said, the next game is the most important one. We’ve got to concentrate on that and get as much as we can from it, so that’s all we’re going to try and do.

“We’ve never promised anything other than hard work and 100 per cent commitment. If we stop doing that then we’ve got a problem, but these boys have been brilliant in that department so far.

“Sparta are a difficult side to break down, that was shown last week. I don’t think they will be too different to what they were, but hopefully we will be different.”

Tomorrow’s match will hold extra significance for Dalglish as it will be the first time he has managed Liverpool in European competition at Anfield.

However, the gaffer was keen to stress helping the Reds secure a place in the next round of the tournament would mean more to him than anything else come Friday morning.

“I’m sure tomorrow night is going to be special, but it’s more important that we get a result because if we do, that will make it even more worthwhile,” said Dalglish.

“For me, I’m only a small part of it and although I am really looking forward to it and it’s a great honour to be in charge of Liverpool on a European night, it will more enjoyable if we get a result. The result is more important than the pre-match show.”

It’s approximately six and a half weeks since Dalglish was restored to the Liverpool helm.

Asked how he’s enjoyed his second spell back in the hot seat so far, the Scot responded: “I don’t know how long it’s been but it’s been hugely enjoyable. To come back and be in charge is a great honour and all you can do is try your best, and that’s all I’ll continue to do – to try and work as well as I can and try and get some positive results.

“I didn’t know it was (nearly) seven weeks, but every day you come in and there’s something new to be done and every day you look forward to getting up out of bed, which is good.

“It’s been a change, but it’s been very rewarding and worthwhile for me and I just hope other people are enjoying it as much as I am.”

He added: “There are an awful lot of positives that have happened over the last couple of years (at the club), mainly from the Academy. I think the progress there from the young kids has been fantastic and it’s really pleasing to see.

“As I’ve said before, it’s great credit to Rafa (Benitez) that he made the changes there and brought in two Spanish lads and Frank McParland on the administrative side of it to get the Academy going, and that’s really positive for us.

“But the most important team at a club is the first team and we’ve got to move that forward now. Hopefully it has moved on a little bit, but obviously we’d like to go further. For me, I’d be happy if we just made some progress.”

Meanwhile, Dalglish reiterated what he exclusively told Liverpoolfc.tv on Tuesday afternoon when quizzed about the latest on the fitness of Daniel Agger, Steven Gerrard and Andy Carroll.

However, the boss also revealed that Jay Spearing is fit again after recovering from a fracture in his foot, while Joe Cole is in contention to figure against Sparta having played for almost an hour as an early substitute in Prague last week.

Dalglish said: “Joe Cole got a run out for an hour last week, which was a bit longer than what we would have hoped for.

“It was maybe a wee bit early for him to play that length of time, but with Fabio (Aurelio) getting injured then he had to go on. Joe will have benefitted from that, so we’re getting a few players back now.”

Pressed on how long it’s like to be before Carroll is ready for his Liverpool debut, Dalglish added: “He’s close to full training and involved with the lads for parts of the training, but as I said there is no need to get carried away – there’s not going to be a surprise announcement that he’s playing tomorrow night.”

Dalglish restated that Liverpool will not take any chances with the fitness of Gerrard, who has missed our last two matches due to a groin injury.

On whether the skipper could be ready to face West Ham United on Sunday, he said: “He could be. We will just have to wait and see. He is that close that we might have a decision to make whether we take a chance or leave him.

“We’ve not to come to that stage yet, but it could be what we’re faced with tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Dalglish offered his congratulations to son Paul, whose wife gave birth to twins on Tuesday evening.

He said: “I spoke to him last night. Of course he’s happy – it’s the first time he’s scored two goals in one game!

“It’s fantastic. The baby is looking brilliant, I’ve seen the pictures. That’s his first but in getting two in one hit it might be his last as well!”

Source : Liverpool FC

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