Kenny: It was a team effort
Kenny Dalglish described Liverpool's performance as a 'team effort' after watching his side record a commanding 3-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers to go top of the Barclays Premier League table.
Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam netted their first competitive goals for the Reds, with a Martin Skrtel header sandwiched in between, before Ivan Klasnic claimed a stoppage-time consolation for the Trotters.
The result means Liverpool will head into Sunday's league schedule top of the pile by virtue of goal difference - and Dalglish was full of praise for his team's display.
He told his post-match press conference: "We're delighted. I thought we played really well, passed and moved and I think we thoroughly deserved the victory. Everybody who came along to watch will have been very well entertained by the performance of the players.
"It's always nice to score your first goal at Anfield - and even nicer when you come off with a victory as well. Both Jordan and Charlie will get a lot of satisfaction from their goals, but they'll get more satisfaction from the victory.
"Stewart Downing played brilliantly, but he never scored. Wee Luis was named man of the match on the television, but never scored either. But the way they played was fantastic.
"That's the most important thing for us. There are going to be various people who grab the headlines this season, but for us it's a team effort and I think they realise that."
Click on the play button below to watch Kenny's post-match press conference
The goals from Henderson and Adam underlined how quickly Liverpool's summer signings have settled into life on Merseyside.
However, Dalglish believes the pair will both take greater pleasure from their roles in what was an excellent overall team performance.
Asked by reporters what the goals would do for the confidence of Henderson and Adam, the manager replied: "It's an important statement to make, scoring a goal. But that doesn't mean to say your career is finished, does it?
"I think it will give them encouragement and confidence, but if they hadn't scored it wouldn't have affected us because they played really well.
"Goals are more important to some people than others, but for us the performances are more important than individual glory."
Watch the best of our 3-1 win in 15 minutes
Henderson and Adam were joined on the pitch by fellow summer acquisitions Jose Enrique and Stewart Downing.
Dalglish was quizzed by journalists on whether he was surprised by the almost seamless transition the quartet have made into Anfield life.
He responded: "Not particularly. Good footballers can play with other players who are as equally good as them.
"I don't think there is a problem settling in when you come here. I think I get asked this question every time there is a press conference!
"It is a friendly place to come and a fantastic atmosphere to play in with people that are willing you to do well. I don't think it can get any better than that."
Though not on the scoresheet, Luis Suarez turned in another lively display in attack before being withdrawn from the action on 76 minutes to a standing ovation.
The Uruguayan has been in excellent form so far in 2011-12, but Dalglish believes that is the case for several of the Reds players.
He said: "I don't know how they (opposition defenders) approach Luis, but look at a lot of the players who played today and I am sure some people were watching and thought, 'he's not bad either!'
"Somedays Luis will play better than somebody else, and on another day it will be somebody else's turn. The most important thing is we have people who can play and produce a high quality performance - we're fortunate in that respect."
Click on the play button below to watch Charlie Adam's first goal for LFC
Suarez's replacement was Andy Carroll and reporters asked Dalglish what the rationale was behind his decision to start with the No.9 on the substitutes' bench.
"As I've said before, we've got a really strong squad - and the squad will be more successful than the team," said the Scot. "Without a strong squad you don't get anything. It's straightforward, really."
One reporter put it to Dalglish that Liverpool will be top of the league on Saturday night.
The gaffer quipped: "It's early doors - but it's better than being bottom!"
Meanwhile, Dalglish has revealed Martin Kelly was withdrawn from the action on the half-hour mark due to a tight hamstring.
"It was just a tight hamstring," he confirmed. "They will assess it better tomorrow or Monday."
