Kenny targets derby response
Kenny Dalglish admits Liverpool's recent league run is not what's expected at the club - but insisted they're determined to turn the form book on its head when Everton come to Anfield on Tuesday night.
Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Sunderland meant the Reds have lost their last three Barclays Premier League outings - though they did secure the Carling Cup during that sequence.
Across Stanley Park, Everton are currently on a nine-match unbeaten run and moved to within two points of Liverpool with a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.
David Moyes will mark a decade at the Goodison helm on Wednesday - and while Dalglish knows it will be a tough contest, he's hoping that's the only thing the Blues boss will be celebrating this week.
Dalglish told reporters at Melwood: "It's 10 years since he went there, and he's done a fantastic job, and it's nine games undefeated.
"They've done very well and I think the city of Liverpool can be very proud of both clubs because they're representing the city and their respective clubs very well.
"It's a big game and one that both red and blue are looking forward to.
"Maybe if Everton are undefeated in nine, they're looking forward to it a wee bit more optimistically than what they were before we played them at Goodison (earlier in the season).
"We'll just take it as it comes. Form has never won a game in a derby, only what happens on the day.
"I think anybody involved in football knows derby matches are special. They are special occasions for whatever city the two clubs are from.
"For us, it's special because it means a lot to people - but it's not exclusivity. Most clubs have a derby."
On Liverpool's recent form, the manager added: "It depends what teams you're playing, but certainly it's not a record you expect from Liverpool.
"We'll just keep going in the way we have done. What we've done has got us as far as we have. We don't want to get into the habit of losing games, but in between the losses we've had a Carling Cup victory.
"It's a big game tomorrow. Everybody is looking forward to it and we know how much it means to everyone."
While Dalglish admits his side's recent form hasn't been up to standard, he insists nobody at Melwood has been left feeling sorry for themselves.
Indeed, the boss believes Liverpool have taken positive strides forward this season, though naturally he's eager for the Reds to secure a quick return to winning ways.
He said: "We never have (felt sorry for ourselves), ever. We've never gloated when we've won, so we won't hang ourselves when we've lost.
"We want to continue to progress, and I think we are progressing. We've also got a stronger squad this year than we had last year, but we've got to put points on the door and that's what we want to do.
"I think in most of the games we've played, apart from a couple, we've deserved more than what we've got when we haven't got three points.
"We just need to keep believing in ourselves and keep pushing forward, but we know it's going to be difficult tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Dalglish reserved a word of praise for the Sunderland supporters who gave Jordan Henderson a warm reception upon his first return to the Stadium of Light since leaving the Black Cats for Liverpool last June.
He said: "I think it's a great credit to Sunderland fans that they did. They were very mature in their approach to it.
"He's a local boy, it's the only other club he's played for. Most of the players they had the other day were brought from another club, so they shouldn't be upset when somebody leaves the club.
"It was very respectful and honourable they gave him a big round of applause."