UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish gives credit to his players - particularly Fernando Torres - for their improved form in the weekend's defeat of Wolves
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573991
UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish gives credit to his players - particularly Fernando Torres - for their improved form in the weekend's defeat of Wolves
- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish gives credit to his players - particularly Fernando Torres - for their improved form in the weekend's defeat of Wolves
- Date: 25th January 2011
- Summary: LISBON, PORTUGAL (MARCH 31, 2010) (REUTERS) DALGLISH TALKING TO LIVERPOOL CAPTAIN STEVEN GERRARD
- Embargoed: 9th February 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVABRM02I8LWYL976XV0EQNC63F6
- Story Text: Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish on Monday (January 24) praised his squad for turning their season around following the departure of predecessor Roy Hodgson.
Spain's Fernando Torres scored twice in a 3-0 win at Wolves on Saturday (January 22), the Red's first win since the Scot's return to Anfield earlier this month.
"There has never been any doubt about many of the players' abilities here and there wasn't any doubt that they weren't doing as well as they were capable of doing.
"Fernando comes into the same bracket as many others that are doing better now than they were before and they're more like their old selves than they were before," said Dalglish.
"When things aren't going as well as they could do for a football club and for individuals it's very difficult to turn it round, and they've turned it round and it's great credit to them."
Asked about Torres, who struggled to find his form under Hodgson's regime, Dalglish was full of praise.
"You've got to be honest with yourself and I'm sure Fernando would sit and think he could do better. But certainly since I've come in here he's been nothing short of being fantastic for us, the way he's applied himself in training and the way he's applied himself on the pitch," he said.
"Apart from his goals he's worked tirelessly up front to try to help us as well so I can only and will only assess what he's done since we came in and we have been absolutely delighted with him and a load of the other players as well."
Liverpool face Hodgson's former club Fulham at Anfield in the league on Wednesday (January 26) and will have captain Steven Gerrard available after his three match ban for the red card he received in the FA Cup defeat against Manchester United, Dalglish's first game back in charge.
The skipper will be a welcome addition to the squad already boosted by the win at Molineaux at the weekend.
"We had a great result and performance at Molineaux on Saturday, we've got a very difficult game coming up against Fulham on Wednesday, so for us to have Steven back and being on the back of the performance and result we got at the weekend, it's a great boost for everybody," added Dalglish.
Liverpool's Dutch striker Ryan Babel was on the brink of a move to Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga after the English Premier League club accepted a bid from the German side. But discussions have since broken down and Dalglish said Babel was not leaving.
Asked if it meant the deal was now dead he said: "It means he's staying here." - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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