'We are a force under Kenny'
Ian Rush has heaped praise on Kenny Dalglish after the manager celebrated a year back at the Anfield helm yesterday.
Liverpool's record goal scorer believes Dalglish has restored the Reds fortunes and set the foundations for future glory.
"He has this ability to give you confidence and belief, and knows how to get the best out of players. People want to play for him," said Rush.
"If you look at Liverpool Football Club when Kenny took over compared to where it is now, there's a massive difference.
"With Kenny it's all about the club. You win nothing as individuals; it's all about the team."
Following Dalglish's appointment in January last year, the Reds climbed from 12th to 6th place in the Barclays Premier League and Rush says that a year on from his return, the Scot has transformed the club.
"The squad is so much stronger than it was a year ago," he added.
"The expectations are very high and that can take some getting used to.
"The football we're playing is great to watch and the performances this season have deserved more.
"There's been a problem putting the ball away but the pleasing thing for me is that we're creating a lot of chances. I'm sure the goals will come.
"In general we've done really well when we've come up against the top teams but we need to improve against the so called lesser teams, especially at home.
"We've got a realistic chance for the top four this season. When Kenny was in charge before we always used to come on strong after the turn of the year.
"In the second half of the season we really stepped it up and hopefully that will be the case again.
"Next season we'll be looking to kick on again and I think we can expect to challenge for the title.
"Over the past year there's been real progress. We have become a force again."
The Welshman, who scored 346 goals for Liverpool in 660 appearances for the club, added that any doubts about Dalglish's ability to step straight back into the Anfield hot-seat after a stretch out of management were always unfounded.
He said: "I knew Kenny would slot straight back in and make a big impact. At the time some people said it was a risk because he had been out of management for so long but that was never a worry for me.
"He might have been out of management but he hadn't been out of football and he certainly hadn't been out of Liverpool Football Club.
"He had been to virtually every game.
"I used to sit next to him at Anfield and he knew everything about the players, right from the first team to the reserves and the Academy.
"Liverpool Football Club had never left him and his experience and ability was exactly what the club needed.
"With Kenny in charge the players, the supporters, the staff and the owners are all singing from the same hymn sheet."
Rush also pinpoints the arrival of Steve Clarke and Kevin Keen that has also been a key factor in the Reds' resurgence.
He said: "It's clear the three of them work really well together.
"Liverpool's success going back to Bill Shankly was built around the bootroom. Bill and Bob Paisley enjoyed great success but they would be the first people to say it was a team effort.
"They had great support from the likes of Joe Fagan, Roy Evans and Ronnie Moran.
"Kenny has two very good coaches in Steve and Kevin."