'I did it, so can Stewart'
Title-winning winger Stuart Ripley believes Stewart Downing is the right man to help Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll top the scoring charts during 2011-12.
Ripley was signed by Kenny Dalglish when he was manager of Blackburn and was a key component in Rovers' championship-clinching team of 1995.
Dalglish is trying to build a successful unit in his second spell as manager at Anfield and Ripley thinks Downing will be important to the gaffer's plans.
"Kenny knows how to build a strong squad," Ripley told LFC Weekly in this week's magazine.
"He understands the components it takes to be successful. One of his biggest strengths is the foresight to see how a player will fit into the framework of a team. He always signs players with a particular role in mind and brings that player on, making him a better player.
"Over the last few years at Villa, Stewart has been very consistent. In the past he has had quite a rough ride from the media. I'm not sure why that is for certain but sometimes if you play for a club that is outside the top six or seven, you struggle to get the recognition you deserve and people don't believe in you.
"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Stewart will be a huge success at Liverpool.
"He will provide the ammunition for the forwards. Carroll and Suarez - I can see them both getting 15 to 20-plus next season if they stay fit with the kind of service they'll be receiving."
For the full Ripley interview, the final part of The Luis Suarez Story and a special feature on Anfield's one-game wonders, get this week's LFC Weekly.
