The Return of the King

If Liverpool fans could hit the "Please God: Make that didn't happen" button on a whole season, then I suspect it would be this one. They are playing dreadfully, they were hours from administration and they have sacked their manager after only 6 months. For a club that thrives on stability, they are having a nightmare of a time. One bright note is that they have an old favourite "King" Kenny Dalglish back at the helm. He was very successful with them as both a player and manager after joining from Celtic in the late 1970s but do returning managers ever have the same impact?

There is one very good example of a managerial comeback just across the Mersey from Anfield. John King was Tranmere manager in the late 70s just as Kenny was establishing himself as a Liverpool legend. He didn't do too badly with Rovers but, as they were floating around their typical Third Division mediocrity, he was relieved of his duties in 1980. He went on to manage a few other small sides until a new Tranmere chairman came knocking on his door in 1987 with the club fighting relegation, not just from the top division as Liverpool are but from the entire football league. They survived, with 10 minutes to spare. From that point came a remarkable turnaround as the club rose through the divisions and came close on several seasons to Premier League promotion.

Kenny Dalglish has not had the easiest of starts to his second stint as Liverpool boss. They were always going to struggle at Old Trafford. The penalty goal was soft - whether any contact was made at all with the player (and the assistant referee couldn't spot it) Dimitar Berbatov was simply looking for a penalty. I wouldn't accuse that one player or Manchester United of cheating because most players from most top-level clubs do this as a matter of course. As a fan, I can't stand it. I go to watch a game of football, not theatrical play-acting, and this is why I can't be bothered to pay for top flight footie at the ground or on the telly - there is just no entertainment in it. The other talking point in that game was Gerrard's sending off. At least with this, I think Webb was showing some consistency. Stevie G may have been going for the ball and not made any contact with the player but he went in with both feet and studs showing. Had it been one foot then I am sure that Webb would only have given a yellow card as with this example: Nigel De Jong attempts to murder catches Xabi Alonso during the World Cup final:



Things haven't got any better for Kenny as the Reds went to bits against Blackpool (a side that I do have some time for). The thing is, Liverpool are in terrible form and it takes time to sort out. When sides are like this they eventually pick up and just start winning against expectation. Unless they go the way of Nottingham Forrest, they do have some talented players and they should turn things around - not enough to win much but enough to avoid relegation and take stock. As for the players they have, there are very few of their senior players that I would regard as indispensable. In fact, only goalkeeper Reina strikes be as being a push to replace as he is by far the best keeper I can ever remember playing for Liverpool - although I always have a certain affection for Tommy Lawrence. Of the others, Gerrard and Carragher are approaching the end of their careers, Torres is injury prone and the likes of Kuyt are workhorses rather than thoroughbreds - although this is what they need right now. However there are many promising young players just on the fringe of the squad: Danny Wilson, Jay Spearing, Jonjo Shelvey, Martin Kelly and Nathan Eccleston all look capable of holding down a first team place given a decent run of games. This, along with the appointment of Steve Clarke as coach all points to a promising future. Whether this is with Dalglish at the helm remains to be seen.

Liverpool face Everton this Sunday in what will be Dalglish's first game in charge at Anfield since a goalless draw in the cup against Everton in 1991. If they lose, it can't get much worse for the fans but, if they win, could this mark the Return of the King?