Liverpool: Out with the old, in with…the old?

January 12, 2011

That Liverpool and John Henry chose to sack manager Roy Hodgson is no surprise. However, while replacing him with Kenny Dalglish is a good PR move, it remains to be seen if it will be part of the long-term solution to Liverpool's on field woes.

Let's get one thing straight – Dalglish is a legend. He had a brilliant career as a player, scoring 230 goals in domestic league appearances with Celtic and Liverpool, appearing in 102 games and scoring 30 goals for Scotland. As a manager with Liverpool, Blackburn Newcastle, and Celtic, Dalglish led his teams to three Football League First Division title, two FA Cup wins, four Charity Shield victories, a Premier League crown, and a Scottish League Cup. There is no doubt that he could be the man to return Liverpool to its regular spot among the leaders of the EPL.

Let's get something else straight – John Henry has proven his ability to bring a team to glory and respects the heritage of a sports franchise. He has made the most out of Fenway Park, and he's brought two World Series crowns to the once-beleaguered Boston Red Sox.

But this is soccer (excuse me, football) and Dalglish has been away from managing for a decade. He enjoys phenomenal support from former Liverpool players and the club's fans, but how long will that support last if the team continues to underperform? Dalglish is currently the interim manager, and he's said he'd be interested in a permanent return. To do that, he's got to get the most out of the talent Liverpool has on its roster and make a splash during the January transfer window.

After the sacking of Hodgson on January 8, Dalglish managed Liverpool the following day in an FA Cup third round affair against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The team looked good, losing 1-0 after a controversial PK converted by Ryan Giggs and the sending off of Steven Gerrard. Today, Dalglish returned to Premier League action against Blackpool. As of the time of this article, an early Fernando Torres goal was canceled out by a Gary Taylor-Fletcher strike, and the game went to halftime knotted at 1-1. UPDATE: Liverpool lost 2-1.

The jury is out on this one for now. Should Liverpool rebound and survive in the EPL this season, perhaps even making a move into the top half of the table, Dalglish will deserve the credit and a permanent return. If the unthinkable happens, however, and Liverpool falters and Dalglish's reputation is tarnished, it will be a sad day for Liverpool fans the world over.