Under the stewardship of Shankly, Paisley, Fagan and indeed Dalglish, the Reds amassed a staggering 13 First Division titles and 4 European Cups, such was their domination.
Recently Reds fans have become more accustomed to the words “average” and “disappointing”. Following Dalglish’s reign in which he won three league championships as player-manager, since 1990 Liverpool have seen only glimpses of their former glory days: The 2005 Champions League victory against AC Milan, three FA Cups and two League Cups.
However the title, the biggest prize of them all has continued to elude them. Benitez took them close in 08-09, finishing in second place to Man Utd, before a mediocre 7th place finish the following season. Having long since relinquished their pedestal on the top of the English game, this steady period of decline built up to nearly bursting point.
Hodgson, an affable and capable coach, seemed out of his depth at a club of this stature, and Liverpool fans’ chants for the return of King Kenny became deafening to the board, who following Hodgson’s departure by mutual consent, reinstated the Anfield legend.
For a club built on a rich history of English and local talent, Dalglish’s tenure signals a clear return to their roots. Instantly galvanizing the squad and staff, his presence alone reminds the whole club of who they really are, and the players of who they are really playing for.
Dalglish was employed in Liverpool’s academy in 2009, an inspired appointment by Benitez, as the youth setup which in the 90’s saw the likes of Fowler, Owen, Carragher, Gerrard and McManaman develop into first team stars, in the following decade has produced no one of the same caliber.
Under the Scot’s short stint he has already shown real faith in the youth talent, with talented 20 year old right back Martin Kelly promoted to first choice, pushing £17m Glen Johnson into a left back role. Kelly impressed in his first real test against Chelsea, and against Manchester United so much that Liverpool’s fans voted him Man of the Match, Dalglish adding “He was as good as anyone on the pitch today”.
Daniel Pacheco also finds himself promoted to the first team squad, and has started four Europa League matches, earning himself a contract extension along the way. In the reserves, Raheem Sterling found national coverage of his exploits with a five star five goal performance against Southen United’s youth team. Five of the youth team were selected to travel with the first team for Liverpool’s tie against Sparta Prague, following an impressive 8 game win streak.
Dalglish has an expert eye for talent. In his previous run as Liverpool manager, he signed the likes of Peter Beardsley, John Aldridge, John Barnes and Ray Houghton. As Blackburn manager, after leading them to promotion to the Premiership, his league winning side featured signings Chris Sutton, Tim Flowers and David Batty.
It’s clear then, that in Dalglish Liverpool have a manager who will invest more wisely than Benitez and Houllier. Carroll, a more typical signing, has a huge price tag to play up to, and only time will tell for him. As for Suarez, the evidence so far suggests £22m is a steal. With signings of this caliber, of which surely there will be more in the summer, as well as a clear out of the remnants of the Benitez regime, and the emergence of a new generation of exciting youth talent, the resurgence of the Liverpool that struck fear into all their opposition, might this time be real.
